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In his opening statement, RDR lawyer Anthony Falzone said the book, written by the Lexicon website's founder, Steven Vander Ark, would serve as a reference guide, calling it an effort ''to organize and discuss the complicated and very elaborate world of Harry Potter.'' The publisher is arguing that Vander Ark's own interpretation, creativity, and analysis makes the use of Rowling's work a fair use allowable by law in the long tradition of literary reference guides. Rowling has openly praised the free Lexicon fan site, even commenting in interviews that she has relied on its catalog of characters, spells, magic potions, locations, and events while writing. Her objection came when RDR said it would make money off of her work. In court on Monday, Rowling explained that the Potter characters are too dear for her to allow the encyclopedia to be published without objection. ''I really don't want to cry because I'm British, you know,'' Rowling testified. ''You know, these books, they saved me, not just in the very obvious material sense, although they did do that.... I would have to say that there was a time when they saved my sanity.''
The trial will be decided by U.S. District Judge Robert Patterson Jr. The testimony and arguments are expected to last most of the week. (AP via Yahoo!)
