Intelectual property attorney Dyan House: There's a lesson for everyone in the Harry Potter IP ruling
There's a teaching opportunity from the recent ruling against a Harry Potter fan who sought to publish a detailed guide to the works of Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.

In the Potter case, a federal judge in New York found that "The Lexicon: An Unauthorized Guide to Harry Potter Fiction and Related Materials" violated Rowling's copyright because the guide used too much of Rowling's original material without attribution. The takeway, says intellectual property attorney Dyan House of Munck Carter in Dallas, is to be careful when using original material without attribution. "If you're creating a reference guide, using too much of the source work without the creator's permission is an almost sure way to find yourself in court," House says. To interview Ms. House, contact Mark Annick at 800-559-4534 or mark@androvett.com.