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From The Times
October 13, 2007

Judges fight off Harry Potter author’s attack on Indian version of Hogwarts

Artists apply finishing touches on a marquee in the shape of Hogwarts castle from the Harry Potter series, in Kolkata

DELHI An Indian court has dismissed a claim by Warner Bros and J. K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter books, for damages from the organisers of a religious event who constructed a replica of her fictional Hogwarts School.

Delhi High Court, however, ordered the organisers of the Durga Puja festivities in Calcutta - the biggest Hindu religious event in eastern India - not to use any characters from Rowling’s books after the annual celebration without her permission.

Rowling and the publishers Bloomsbury had sought 2 million rupees (£25,000) from the organisers, who made an elaborate castle from canvas, papier mâché and bamboo in the eastern metropolis for the four-day carnival beginning on October 16.

The suit, which ran into 394 pages, argued that the festival organisers would exploit the castle to earn money through advertising.

Rowling’s fictitious world depicts the castle as an ancient school of witchcraft and wizardry attended by her hero Harry Potter.

The marquee in Calcutta’s Salt Lake district includes an imitation marble staircase and flagged stone floor in the entrance hall, lit with flaming torches. (AFP)

It was insensitive on the part of the Warner Brothers to challange the organisers for the Pandal. Predictably, they won the legal battle but I am sure if anything, this will have a negative impact on the image of Rowling on eastern India. That makes for an unwise business decision.

Ayan, Sheffield, UK

Jenny may be right. This is a world of preserving one's rights. However in Calcutta it has been a long tradition of building replicas of monuments during Durga Puja. The same organiser that is now building Hogwarts has in the past built the Titanic when the film was released. Nothing happened then.

Partha Bhattacharya, Calcutta, India

They should never dismiss Rowling on any account! She has worked hard and it does look like Hogwarts. Always ask first, She might be flattered!

Jenny, Austin, Texas

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