Interesting twist on copyright

["Joseph J. Esposito" <espositoj@gmail.com>]

Interesting story circulating about J.K. Rowling, who has 
apparently authorized fans to write sequels to the Harry Potter 
series, provided that they are noncommercial, not pornographic, 
and do not include racism. Presumably it would be okay for Harry 
to take a job as a serial killer for a not-for-profit 
organization.

Kidding aside, and assuming the story is true (I am pasting in a 
blog item below, but a blog could be the work of Dolores 
Umbridge), this represents a shrewd application of 
next-generation intellectual property activity. Rowling can 
retire and let her fans continue to market her books.  And she 
has been notoriously protective of the books that she did write.

We will be seeing more of this.  The debate between "information 
wants to be free" and "information wants to be expensive" is 
over.  Creative people synthesize.  (But there is no truth to the 
rumor that Stevan Harnad has been hired as Director of Marketing 
for Springer.)

Joe Esposito

_________

Harry Potter author JK Rowling has given fans permission to write 
sequels to the hugely successful boy-wizard books, picking up the 
action after the series final installment, The Deathly Hallows.

The author - whose seven-book series about the young wizard has 
sold almost 400 million copies - will not take legal action 
against George Lippert, who wrote a follow-up to Harry's 
adventures on his website.

Under copyright laws Lippert could have been prosecuted for his 
actions.

Rowling's lawyers confirmed she is happy for spin-offs to be 
published online as long as the publications are not sold and it 
is made clear she was not involved in the stories.

She also requested the follow-ups do not contain pornography or 
racism.

****