Authors, Writers, Publishers, and Book Readers

J.K. Rowling Accused of Plagiarism

A High Court in the UK writ is accusing her of plagiarism.

The lawsuit, filed in a London court Monday by the late Adrian Jacobs’ estate, claims that Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire copied substantial parts of Jacobs’ 1987 book The Adventures of Willy the Wizard ? No. 1 Livid Land. The author’s estate also claims several other ideas from Willy the Wizard were used in Harry Potter books.

http://www.seattlepi.com/tvguide/415570_tvgif18.html

Are claims like this par for the course when you become a famous writer or is there ever any substance to them?

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Permalink Reply by Callie Leah on February 21, 2010 at 6:24am

Well, even though Willy is older than Harry, she may not have copied it. She may just have gotten the same idea. I wrote a story for one of my friends, and I later found out that there was a 2 or 3 year old movie about the same concept, just a different background. And please don't ask what it was about, because it was really stupid. If something like that can happen to me, then it could happen to her. The only difference is that I found out about that movie before she found out about Willy.

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Permalink Reply by Kay Elizabeth on February 23, 2010 at 1:12am

I understand where you're coming from and would have said the same if I hadn't read this article that details just how close the stories are. It shows some of the key passages that are being challenged.

This is one of them:

A wizards' contest, which lawyers allege Rowling took to form the idea of the Triwizarding Tournament

"A voice began to boom from the walls of the great hall. 'We are here today for me to inaugurate the year of the wizards’ contests. Each of you will be given details of the competitions, prizes and penalties. Au revoir, tout a’ l’heure, etc.’. Duke Louis Dix-Sept jumped onto the back of one of his panthers and Goboldyquick he disappeared, carriage and all." Sounds pretty familar to me. They may well have a case.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/harry-potter/7264943/JK-Rowling-...

Callie Leah said:

Well, even though Willy is older than Harry, she may not have copied it. She may just have gotten the same idea. I wrote a story for one of my friends, and I later found out that there was a 2 or 3 year old movie about the same concept, just a different background. And please don't ask what it was about, because it was really stupid. If something like that can happen to me, then it could happen to her. The only difference is that I found out about that movie before she found out about Willy.

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Permalink Reply by Callie Leah on February 24, 2010 at 12:49am

Well, considering how distrusting humans can be, she may very well have read Willy and stolen it. I wouldn't doubt that. I mean, let's face it. Every author steals at least one detail from someone else. I'm writing this new story, and when I told one of my friends about it, she made all of the best suggestions liturature has to offer, and I'm gonna use it. (She told me I could) But I also wouldn't doubt an author's creativity. She may have just caught wind of a book about wizards, and gotten an inspiration to write one herself. I wouldn't give favor to either side of the story. I'm not clear on which one is true, but I'm not taking any sides.

Kay Elizabeth said:

I understand where you're coming from and would have said the same if I hadn't read this article that details just how close the stories are. It shows some of the key passages that are being challenged.

This is one of them:

A wizards' contest, which lawyers allege Rowling took to form the idea of the Triwizarding Tournament

"A voice began to boom from the walls of the great hall. 'We are here today for me to inaugurate the year of the wizards’ contests. Each of you will be given details of the competitions, prizes and penalties. Au revoir, tout a’ l’heure, etc.’. Duke Louis Dix-Sept jumped onto the back of one of his panthers and Goboldyquick he disappeared, carriage and all." Sounds pretty familar to me. They may well have a case.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/harry-potter/7264943/JK-Rowling-...

Callie Leah said:
Well, even though Willy is older than Harry, she may not have copied it. She may just have gotten the same idea. I wrote a story for one of my friends, and I later found out that there was a 2 or 3 year old movie about the same concept, just a different background. And please don't ask what it was about, because it was really stupid. If something like that can happen to me, then it could happen to her. The only difference is that I found out about that movie before she found out about Willy.