Who is Nancy Stouffer (was Re: Interim Ruling/club copy of book)

[heidi.h.tandy.c92 at alumni.upenn.edu]

No: HPFGUIDX 12672

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Stephanie Malfoy" <StephanieMalfoy at h...> 
wrote:
> Ok, so I have been reading these posts and feeling totally out of 
the loop.  
> Who is this woman, what is this books, where is her site, when did 
she file 
> a court case, why is she mad at JKR(aside from copyng a bok which 
Jo prob 
> didnt), and how did you guys hear about this?  Wow, I covered them 
all! I 
> could be the next Linda Ellerby from that news show for kids, you 
know with 
> all of the questions...


Since I am the writer of the Stouffer/Legal Issues FAQ (which will be 
available at some point soon!) it's my responsibility to do this 
response.

Nancy Stouffer is claiming that the terms MUGGLE and MUGGLES identify 
her goods, and that JKR, Scholastic and Warner Brothers' use of the 
term "MUGGLES" in the books and the ancillary products infringes on 
her use of the terms. 

According to her agent, Nancy Stouffer first contacted Scholastic in 
August about her concerns that elements in the Potter books, 
particularly the use of the "Muggles characters", violated Stouffer's 
trademarks. Stouffer's Muggle characters first appeared in her 1984 
book, Rah and the Muggles and were trademarked in 1986. No trademark 
applications were filed for the marks she is claiming to own until 
February, 2000. 

Ms Stouffer claims that the following similarities between the HP 
books and her book mean that JKR is infringing on her trademarks:
Both books have a mythical place, a great hall, a dark secret path 
(can someone tell me where in book 1 this is?) And surprisingly 
enough, boats by a lake and seats in a great hall! How unique!
The hp books have a  sorcerer's stone, and Neville's "body changes 
become blistered with boils"; the Stouffer book has a worry stone, 
and "Nevil[`]s bodies change become deformed/skin rough". 
She also thinks that because the hp books have a nimbus 2000 broom 
that flies through the sky  and her book has a nimbus mythical 
warrior that flies through the sky. Of course, a nimbus is a type of 
cloud, and is defined as a "radiant light that appears usually in the 
form of a circle or halo about or over the head in the representation 
of a god, demigod, saint, or sacred person such as a king or an 
emperor", and is a term from classical Greek mythology. 
Finally, she thinks that in book 1, questions are asked "before 
others already there". When did this happen in book 1? In class? 
During the sorting?
She also says that there's a similarity when the muggles [are] 
rejoicing "happy, happy day", whereas in her book, muggles [are] 
rejoicing "oh what a wonderful day" but no muggles in the hp books 
say that. Wizards do, on November 1, 1981.
IF YOU WANT TO READ MORE....
A lawyer who has a website including book reviews and book publishing 
information 
(http://www.crosswinds.net/~jsavage/journals/j9912.html#99Dec01 and 
http://www.crosswinds.net/~jsavage/journals/j0003.html) discusses the 
original Scholastic complaint.
Jenna's site has a great list of other places where the word MUGGLE 
has been used – it's at  
http://www.geocities.com/harrypotterfans/muggles.html. Salon magazine 
has a similar list at 
A very funny fanfic about where Nancy Stouffer really got her ideas 
is at http://blue.fanfiction.net/master.cfm?action=story-
read&storyid=40128 – it's called Son of Scabbers. 
If for some reason you actually want to see exactly what Nancy 
Stouffer has to say, go to http://www.realmuggles.com – but don't 
send her any death threats or Avada Kedaveras.