"Accio" is a summoning spell used in the worldwide craze, the Harry Potter series. Since the launch of the first book, 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone', this franchise owned by J.K. Rowling, the book's author, has churned out six other books, movies and many other merchandise. For something as huge as the book series, fansites are sure to emerge everywhere on the Internet. One fansite went a little too far.
(Source: The Harry Potter Lexicon)Harry Potter Lexicon is a Potter encyclopaedia run by Steven Vander Ark. When he decided to publish all the information he compiled about the 'Potter-verse', Rowling summoned her lawyers and sued him, claiming copyright infringement.
Reep (2006, p.41) defines copyright as "the legal protection for the creators of original works". An infringement of copyright occurs when someone uses the original works of a creator for their own interest and benefit without getting his/her permission first. In a way, copyright infringement is similar to plagiarism except copyrights are usually bounded by the law.
Although I would be excited to own a copy of a Potter encyclopaedia myself, I do not intend to buy one that basically steals all the information from Ms Rowling. This matter is simply unethical. Luckily, CBS News reports that the judge ruled in favour of Rowling, stating that it would "cause her irreparable harm as a writer".
I have heard of some people who are against the judge's ruling, saying Rowling should let someone else have a go at making billions of dollars. I say, even though she is one of the richest people in the world, she still has the right to keep what is hers and that should be the end of it.
References:
CBS News 2008, "Harry Potter" Author Wins Copyright Claim, 8 September, viewed 8 November 2008, [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/08/entertainment/main4426302.shtml].
Reep, DC 2006, Technical Writing: Principles, Strategies, and Readings, 6th edn, Pearson Education, USA.
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