geri_chan | Interview with Steve Vander Ark on HP Prognostications

I can't seem to stop posting about the Lexicon trial, even after it's over! The HP Prognostications podcast (episode #90) has an interview with Steve Vander Ark. Go check it out if you want to hear his side of the story. (I linked to the comments; scroll up for the episode description and download link. And of course you can find the podcast on iTunes under "Harry Potter Prognostications".)

He's remarkably calm and understanding of the fans' reactions to him and the trial, saying that as a fan, he understands how they feel, and he'd probably feel the same way himself in their position, though he does acknowledge that some people went too far and said things very hurtful to him and the people that he cares about. (An understatement if I've ever heard one!) Of course, as he's coming out with a new book, the travel memoir mentioned in my previous post, he'd want to keep on the fans' good side if he wants them to buy his book, but for what it's worth, my own impressions were that he was being sincere.

A friend of mine commented to me that Steve seems more sincere than JKR because Steve's views and statements haven't changed; both before and after the trial, Steve said he is a big fan of JKR and bears her no ill will. On the other hand, JKR had said in the past that the Lexicon was a great resource and that she had sometimes used it, while she testified during the trial that it was "sloppy" and "lazy". So to my friend, it seemed like she was being insincere in order to win the trial. He also feels strongly that her argument that the Lexicon book would compete with her planned encyclopedia should not be--or have been, since the trial is over--a factor in the judge's decision, as he doesn't think that she has the right to stop publication of a book just because it would potentially be competing with hers. He also thinks that it's too bad that they couldn't compromise and work to create the encyclopedia together--after all, Steve's already collected and indexed the facts from the books, while JKR would add her own unique HP universe information that hasn't been published yet.

My friend, I should clarify, is not really a Potter fan (or a lawyer, I should add, although he has studied copyright issues for his own personal interest). He hasn't read the books, but he has seen the movies, mostly because I and another friend have dragged him along with us to see them. He finds the movies mildly entertaining, but he was following the trial in the news mainly because he was interested in the fair use issues. So it was interesting to get the perspective of a non-fan on the subject.

Anyhow, getting back to the podcast, I really have to congratulate the hosts, Penny and Greg, for having been calm and unbiased in their trial coverage, and for urging their listeners to discuss the matter in a polite and respectful manner. It's quite a refreshing change from the heated emotions on other fansites and podcasts. (*cough* PotterCast *cough*) While Steve couldn't discuss certain things in detail, presumably due to legal issues, I thought the interview was quite interesting, and it cleared up a few misconceptions, such as the fact that he did try to reach a compromise with JKR/WB, but in the end, it didn't work out. And also, contrary to this news report that RDR is filing an appeal, Steve says that he doesn't know anything about it, and that while RDR and the Stanford team are keeping their options open, he's pretty sure that he would have been informed if they had actually decided to file an appeal.

How ironic, that HP fans have to be reminded not to believe everything the media tells us, in spite of Rita Skeeter's example in the books!

I strongly urge everyone to listen to the podcast, regardless of your views on the trial--we've heard a lot from JKR and WB, but we haven't heard much from Steve up until now, and it's only fair to listen to both sides. And I would also urge people to check out HP Progs's previous episodes--I really enjoyed their analysis of characters and themes in the books.