August 10, 2007 6:05 AM PDT
'Potter' author worried about translation networks
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Complaint filed by Rowling and her French publisher focuses on online translator networks, not on "isolated translations" by fans.
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6 comments
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The issue here is that NO ONE, regardless of age or intention, is allowed to make a "derivative work" of a copyrighted document, whether it is a translation, a modification, rewrite, etc., without the authorization of the copyright holder. There are certain very limited exceptions, but generally the violators charged do not qualify for such exceptions.
A copyright holder's rights have nothing to do with any money J.K. Rowling may have or may not have, whether she is rich or not, or whether she may be greedy or not. She has the absolute right to stop unlicensed people from violating her copyright. IMO, I find her to be quite a nice person, because she made clear that her focus is on the prosecution of organizations and persons who violate copyrights for financial reasons, and who churn out millions of unauthorized copies, rather than a single underage, misguided individual. Unlike certain organizations in the US.
I find the comments about her "greed" and how rich she is, distasteful. Before creating her fabulous Potter series, she was a single mother trying to support her children with no help from anyone. Personally, I applaud her, and I am very happy that she has given her wonderful series to the world, and am also happy for her that she enjoys such a high degree of success.
Although she is British, she embodies the idea of success that the United States professes to admire - she worked hard, had a great idea, and now she is enjoying her success. It seems to me that people that are attacking her "greed" just demonstrate their own envy and jealousy.
There's no one to blame but themselves.
Having said that, yes, stealing's wrong.