Stanford, Calif. - A federal court in New York on Monday heard arguments from Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, who along with Warner Bros. (NYSE: TWX) has filed suit to prevent the publication of a reference guide to the series, claiming its creator has stolen her work. The defendant, RDR Books, argued that its print version of "The Harry Potter Lexicon," based on school librarian and Harry Potter fan Steven Vander Ark's Web resource of the same name, is a legal "fair use" or Rowling's works.

RDR is represented by the Fair Use Project of Stanford Law School's Center for Internet and Society.

"The right to create literary reference guides like the Lexicon has remained nearly unquestioned for hundreds of years," said Anthony Falzone, executive director of the Fair Use Project and counsel on the case.

The not-for-profit Harry Potter Lexicon website has an estimated 25 million annual visitors, and in 2004 even received a fan site award from Rowling herself.

On the witness stand on Monday, Rowling called the manuscript "sloppy" and "lazy," and asked, "What does it add?" The New York Times reported.

"The idea of my readership parting with their or their parents' hard earned cash for this -- I think it's a travesty."

Rowling has also said she plans to publish her own Harry Potter encyclopedia, which her lawsuit claims would be harmed by the publication of RDR's for-profit work.

"To suggest that the Lexicon might affect the market for a companion guide Ms. Rowling plans to publish some day, perhaps years from now, is inconceivable given her stature and reputation," countered RDR attorney David S. Hammer.

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/24ezx

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/14/books/14cnd-rowling.html

http://cyberlaw.stanford.edu

http://www.rdrbooks.com