Harry Potter Mania Heats Up!
A little more than 24-hours from now the newest and final Harry Potter book will be released to the masses. Of course, for some, the book has been released a little too early for the publisher’s taste. I’m not surprised. Given that this is one of the most anticipated book releases of one of the most popular children’s series to ever hit literature, is anyone else really surprised that the book leaked out early?
I’m actually even more surprised at the actions of the publisher, Scholastic. They appear hell-bent on take legal action on anyone who lets the book out early. While many agree with their position, and to a point, so do I. But let’s consider that all the books that were leaked out have been paid for. Let’s also consider it’s a well-known fact that booksellers aren’t going to make a cent off direct sales from the new Potter book. Then where does all that money go? Scholastic, of course!
The publisher doesn’t seem to be losing money on this deal. If a few books slip out early, that’s the price of doing business. The only crime would be if books were somehow stolen, then a lawsuit would be in order. But suing their own customers?
Please don’t mis-understand me. Let the plot of the newest Potter book remain a surprise for those who want to wait until July 21. Let them have their fun. There’s no reason to ruin it for them. I can’t imagine these last few days for the diehard Potter fans who have been trying to avoid all coverage of the new book, lest any juicy secrets ruin the surprise.
But Scholastic needs to lighten up. For all the money their making on this deal, a few premature books shouldn’t phase them. But it might be too late, as one lawsuit has already been filed:
In a suit filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill., Scholastic alleged that Infinity Resources Inc., doing business as DeepDiscount.com, shipped "Deathly Hallows" as much as a week "before the contractually permitted shipping date."
The Wall Street Journal article continues:
"We’re asking for damages but can’t yet quantify them," says Lisa Holton, president of Scholastic Trade and Book Fairs.
Damages? Less then one percent of the total books printed got released, in what could have easily been an accident (although I’m skeptical about that too). That’s hardly going to bankrupt Scholastic, or J.K. Rowling for that matter.
Hopefully cool heads will prevail. While I don’t plan on attending one of those midnight Potter parties that so many booksellers are advertising, I might swing by tomorrow evening to the calm before the storm. And don’t think this is going to become an all-Harry Potter blog, because it’s not. I might write another post or two about the series finale, but it will soon be off my radar screen and other stories will fill the void.
Read the entire Wall Street Journal article here:
Mischief Unmanaged
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