Way to go Rowling!
Jun. 5th, 2005 05:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
semiotic_pirateArrests 'in Potter leak attempt'LONDON, England -- Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has won a court order to stop two men leaking details of her latest work after they were arrested in a dramatic operation to recover two copies of the book.
The novel, due to be released July 16, was offered to two British newspapers -- one of which said one of the alleged sellers had fired a fake gun near its reporter.
Rowling was granted a British High Court injunction against the two men, ages 19 and 37, after they were accused of attempting to sell printed copies of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."
Legal firm Reynolds Porter Chamberlain issued a statement on Rowling's behalf, saying: "This order was made following our client's discovery ... that a copy of the forthcoming Harry Potter book ... had been obtained by unauthorised persons who had subsequently offered the book to newspaper journalists."
Spokesmen for The Sun and the Daily Mirror said both newspapers had been contacted by someone claiming to have copies of the book.
The newspapers said they planned to meet the man in Kettering, 80 miles (130 kilometers) north of London, and contacted police -- who were waiting outside the meeting site and arrested the two suspects Friday.
The Sun said that when its reporter attempted to leave the meeting carrying the book, one of the suspects put a gun next to his head and fired a shot over the journalist's shoulder. The shooter said the gun was not real, but it made a loud bang when it went off, the newspaper reported.
The newspapers said one of the suspects worked at a distribution warehouse where copies of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" are being stored ahead of their release.
"It was very hard" to get around security, the Mirror quoted the man as saying. "The whole warehouse is on camera."
A Northamptonshire police spokesman said: "Two books were recovered and they are currently being held in secure circumstances as evidence."
Police said the two men had both been charged with weapons offences and with handling the stolen books.
Both were released on police bail until early next week when they will appear before magistrates in the county.
The 37-year-old man was charged with possession of an offensive weapon and with handling stolen property, police said.
The 19-year-old man was charged with theft and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
The sixth Harry Potter novel has sparked massive interest since Rowling revealed that a major character will be killed in the book.
Hmmmmn, what major character could she be referring to? Interestingly enough, there has already been a major death of someone close to HP in the fifth book (Sirius) and the traumatic death of (the boyfriend of Cho Chang, the girl HP has a crush on) Cedric during the Tri-Wizard tournament by Voldemort in Book 4. So, it isn't like death is new to us in the HP universe... Is it because it will be someone near and dear to our hearts? Someone we have grown to love and expect to be there throughout the (propoesed) seven book series?
Well, I can admit that the death of a favored character is something I've experience twice in the last month. One I cannot mention. The other Cate/Catelin on NCIS in the series finale. Of course my S/O applauded C's death... Said she wasn't up to par for someone who was former secret service, especially one who did a tour with the presidential protection duty team.
I am partially amazed (but alson not surprised in the least) at the level of mania surrounding this latest release in the Harry Potter series. I myself have, unabashedly, pre-ordered the book and expect the USPS or UPS to deliver, promptly on the day of release, my copy. I have not so fond memories of going to three bookstores last time before finding a copy - never discount the Uconn Co-op Bookstore as a source for first day releases.
I also am not surprised nor amazed by the recently elected pope's opinion of the Harry Potter series. It is something that has been talked about by the right-wing fundamentalists in this country since the series began. I for one, know it's a bunch of phoohey. Mainly because it is the forces of GOOD that are dominant in these novels. That those forces are viewed as more powerful for the accepted to exist powers of EVIL. You would think he would APPLAUD Rowling for bringing a good/moral/ethical example to the masses. What's to get upset about here?
The novel, due to be released July 16, was offered to two British newspapers -- one of which said one of the alleged sellers had fired a fake gun near its reporter.
Rowling was granted a British High Court injunction against the two men, ages 19 and 37, after they were accused of attempting to sell printed copies of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."
Legal firm Reynolds Porter Chamberlain issued a statement on Rowling's behalf, saying: "This order was made following our client's discovery ... that a copy of the forthcoming Harry Potter book ... had been obtained by unauthorised persons who had subsequently offered the book to newspaper journalists."
Spokesmen for The Sun and the Daily Mirror said both newspapers had been contacted by someone claiming to have copies of the book.
The newspapers said they planned to meet the man in Kettering, 80 miles (130 kilometers) north of London, and contacted police -- who were waiting outside the meeting site and arrested the two suspects Friday.
The Sun said that when its reporter attempted to leave the meeting carrying the book, one of the suspects put a gun next to his head and fired a shot over the journalist's shoulder. The shooter said the gun was not real, but it made a loud bang when it went off, the newspaper reported.
The newspapers said one of the suspects worked at a distribution warehouse where copies of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" are being stored ahead of their release.
"It was very hard" to get around security, the Mirror quoted the man as saying. "The whole warehouse is on camera."
A Northamptonshire police spokesman said: "Two books were recovered and they are currently being held in secure circumstances as evidence."
Police said the two men had both been charged with weapons offences and with handling the stolen books.
Both were released on police bail until early next week when they will appear before magistrates in the county.
The 37-year-old man was charged with possession of an offensive weapon and with handling stolen property, police said.
The 19-year-old man was charged with theft and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
The sixth Harry Potter novel has sparked massive interest since Rowling revealed that a major character will be killed in the book.
Hmmmmn, what major character could she be referring to? Interestingly enough, there has already been a major death of someone close to HP in the fifth book (Sirius) and the traumatic death of (the boyfriend of Cho Chang, the girl HP has a crush on) Cedric during the Tri-Wizard tournament by Voldemort in Book 4. So, it isn't like death is new to us in the HP universe... Is it because it will be someone near and dear to our hearts? Someone we have grown to love and expect to be there throughout the (propoesed) seven book series?
Well, I can admit that the death of a favored character is something I've experience twice in the last month. One I cannot mention. The other Cate/Catelin on NCIS in the series finale. Of course my S/O applauded C's death... Said she wasn't up to par for someone who was former secret service, especially one who did a tour with the presidential protection duty team.
I am partially amazed (but alson not surprised in the least) at the level of mania surrounding this latest release in the Harry Potter series. I myself have, unabashedly, pre-ordered the book and expect the USPS or UPS to deliver, promptly on the day of release, my copy. I have not so fond memories of going to three bookstores last time before finding a copy - never discount the Uconn Co-op Bookstore as a source for first day releases.
I also am not surprised nor amazed by the recently elected pope's opinion of the Harry Potter series. It is something that has been talked about by the right-wing fundamentalists in this country since the series began. I for one, know it's a bunch of phoohey. Mainly because it is the forces of GOOD that are dominant in these novels. That those forces are viewed as more powerful for the accepted to exist powers of EVIL. You would think he would APPLAUD Rowling for bringing a good/moral/ethical example to the masses. What's to get upset about here?
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no subject
Date: 2005-06-06 12:09 am (UTC)I can follow their logic that far, but where they lose me is in thinking that a story in which magic is conquered by magic rather than the power of the Lord is somehow going to confuse kids about what's the right way to handle problems (i.e., through prayer, virtue, etc.). I suspect that if these people thought they could get away with banning fiction entirely, they'd do it, because the existence of fictional narratives just *might* raise doubts about the truth & accuracy of a certain important narrative that starts with a B.
Maybe it's not that they think kids can't tell the difference between truth and fiction, but that they don't want them to be *able* to.
Wow, I'm in a snarky mood!
Christ or Death!
From:no subject
Date: 2005-06-06 12:58 am (UTC)(no subject)
From: