Entertainment: JK Rowling court win - Harry Potter author wins Dutch case against Russian children's book
TAPE: EF03/0303
IN_TIME: 21:15:44
DURATION: 2:11
SOURCES: APTN
RESTRICTIONS:
DATELINE: file - various
SHOTLIST
APTN file, premiere 'Chamber of Secrets' London, 3rd November 2002
1. Ext premiere
2. CU film poster Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
3. B-roll JK Rowling
4. SOT JK Rowling: "I thought, 'oh the rain will keep people away,' and it hasn't happened."
APTN file, Moscow, 11th November 2002
5. WS Moscow bookshop
6. Pan Harry Potter books to Tanya Grotter books
7. Reader flicks through book
8. CU Tanya Grotter book
9. Child looks at books
10. Pull CU book to other girl
11. B-roll Dmitry Yemets at home - author of the Tanya Grotter books
APTN file, London - 7th July 2000
12. Trolley with newly released Potter book wheeled out
13. Close-up Hogwarts Express sign
15. Wide shot train
16 Wide shot crowd
17. J.K Rowling in train carriage
18. Pan wide of crowd to train
19. Train rising from engine
20. Train driver
21. Train leaving station
JK ROWLING WINS CASE AGAINST 'TANYA GROTTER AND THE MAGIC BASS'
Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling won her case in an Amsterdam court Thursday (4APR03), blocking publication of a Russian children's book about a magical girl named Tanya Grotter.
The judge ruled 'Tanya Grotter and the Magic Bass' has too many similarities to the boy wizard of Hogwarts, and cannot be published in the Netherlands.
The District Court ordered Dutch publisher Byblos to withhold 7,000 translated copies of the first book by Russian writer Dmitry Yemets, rejecting an argument the book was a parody of Harry Potter, not plagiarism.
The court ruled that if released in the Netherlands, the Russian tale would violate registered copyrights and trademarks.
The book already has sold more than 1 million copies in Russia.
Even for a casual reader, the similarities between "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" and "Tanya Grotter and the Magic Bass" are unmistakable.
Harry rides a broomstick, while Tanya flies a musical instrument. Both have strange facial markings, are 10 years old, and attend wizarding school where they become stars in a dangerous ball sport played in mid-air.
Even the name of the supernatural villain in the Grotter books, Chuma-del-Tort, seems a little too close to the Rowling's Voldemort, whose name must never be spoken.
Byblos acknowledged the Harry Potter storyline had been used as a framework, but said the Russian book, that was to go on sale next Tuesday, targeted an older audience that understands "subtle humour."
"Harry Potter has won and Tanya Potter cannot be published in the Netherlands," said Rowling's Dutch lawyer Eric Keyzer, minutes after phoning the British author's agent to pass on the news.
"We are especially happy that the court confirmed that this is plagiarism, that it's not a parody and that its trademark infringement," Keyzer said.
The decision, based on European law, may lead publishers in other countries to think twice before taking on the powerful Potter.
Byblos has said it will file an appeal, which must be done within four weeks. Owner Boudewijn Richel, who was not available for comment after the ruling, has said he would call expert witnesses to testify to the Russian work's originality.
Thursday's ruling was also a victory for the U.S. company Time Warner Entertainment, also a party in the suit, which filmed the books and sells Harry Potter dolls, videos and countless other memorabilia.
Lawyers for Rowling and Time Warner were supported in their contention that Yemets was "blatantly stealing" the Harry Potter storyline, characters and plot for his Russian-language books.
The fifth Harry Potter book, the next in a series of seven, is expected in June. The first four publications have sold 200 million copies in 55 countries, ranking among the most popular children's stories ever.