[HPFGU-OTChatter] Texas Quidditch update + Possible Copyright Problems?

[Heidi Tandy]

On Thu, 3 Jun 2004 8:31am, Paula Gaon wrote:
> 3June2004

Silverthorne wrote:

"...Anyway, I suspect that either the Texas Site is running under 'Con' 
rules, so to speak, or they've been sanctioned, somehow, by Rowling..."

Paula now:

Hummmm..., Wonder how one would go about getting JKR's consent. Could 
this be done by email? It's worth a try. The worst thing that could 
happen is getting a real "runaround".


T shirts, hats and the like are part of Warner Bros' license, and thus 
JKR doesn't even have the right to give permission for things like this 
anymore.

Warner Bros does  sell licenses, and you can talk with their licensing 
department for the specific rules, but speaking as someone who's created 
a lot of fan-themed merchandise for Potter-fans, it's a difficult thing 
to get, to be sure.

FictionAlley, as well as other sites, put out a bunch of shirts- none of 
ours have any Potter-trademarks on them, and we don't use any 'full 
names' of characters on our stuff.

However, other sites, like The Leaky Cauldron, use some trademarks on 
stuff, but all the proceeds go to charity, which may be why WB allows it 
to happen in that  case. At TLC, also, we do it with wb's knowledge, as 
does FA, even if we don't have any official consent.

However, I'm also one of the  approvers for art, including t shirt art, 
for HPEF - I did it for Nimbus, and I'm currently doing it for Witching 
Hour (http://www.hp2005.org) and Lumos (http://www.hp2006.org) and I 
would never risk allowing something that said QUIDDITCH or MUGGLE on 
it.  Depending on context, SEEKER might fly, and Lumos is just a latin 
word for light, which is why it's ok.

Mer, I have a feeling this didn't unconfuse anyone, but that's probably 
because the specifics of trademark law and copyright law, as well as the 
determination of the extent of a risk one is willing to take, can be a 
bit wiggy.