Did Rowlings Give Potter Away to Fans?

J.K. Rowlings suit against Steven Vander Ark's lexicon is huge news. Shelf Awareness, USA Today, Times of London,MediaBistro to name a few are talking about this case.

Yeah, I know...Harry Potter is frowned upon in certain Christian writing circles, but this issue is noteworthy. Because the issue at stake isn't as clear, cut and dry as it seems.

Question: How much leeway does an author give a fan website?

Rowling acknowledged she once bestowed an award on Vander Ark's Web site because, she said, she wanted to encourage a very enthusiastic fan.

But she said she "almost choked on my coffee" one morning when she realized Vander Ark had warned others not to copy portions of his Web site. She said she now has second thoughts about all the encouragement she has given to online discussions and Web sites devoted to her books.

"I never censored it or wanted to censor it," she said, adding that if she loses the lawsuit, she will conclude she essentially gave away her copyrights by encouraging the Web sites.

"Other authors will say, `I need to exercise more control. She was an idiot. She let it all go,'" Rowling said. -Associated Press

I had the same reaction as she a few months ago...:)

Your thoughts.

Cite: Harry Potter Reading Map Courtesy of Round Lake Library