Stouffer vs. Rowling: infringement examples

[bbennett at joymail.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 14553

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Saitaina" <saitaina at w...> wrote:
> While re-looking at the alleged 'Infringement Examples' I came 
across something that very few people realize and just makes N. K. 
Stouffer look like an idiot (not that the books don't do that well 
enough).  She claims that the 'Sorcerer's Stone' is a rip off of her 
'Worry Stone'.  >>

I also looked at the list of supposed infringement examples. One item 
JKR is accused of lifting from Stouffer is that the castle has a set 
of stone steps leading to an oak door (Stouffer's lead to a "wooden" 
door). For the love of all that is holy, how many castles out there 
*don't* have stone steps leading to a wooden door? This is an 
*infringement*? Then why didn't they include clothes in the list? I 
know Rowling describes more than once Harry getting dressed in her 
books, and Stouffer's characters appear to wear clothing - surely JKR 
ripped that off. And those ugly little critters on Stouffer's 
homepage are bald, yet JKR very specifically describes her characters 
as having hair. Coincidence, or intentional misdirect away from 
Stouffer's limited release, limited edition, out-of-print-for-the-
last-fifteen-years book? Quick, someone call the lawyers!

<sigh> I'm sorry, I obviously do sarcasm poorly, but this makes me 
angry. I'm all about giving the benefit of the doubt, but the more I 
read, the more this looks like a case of someone trying to cash in on 
the good fortunes and talent of an outstanding and much beloved 
writer. 

I'm off to the Good Ship R/H's bar. I need a gin and tonic. 

B