Harry Potter fan breaks down at court copyright case

Published on Wednesday 16 April 2008 10:28

A HARRY Potter fan who wants to publish an encyclopaedic guide to the popular fantasy novels broke down and cried on the witness stand as he faced his idol JK Rowling in a New York court.

The author is suing publisher RDR Books for copyright infringement over its plans to publish a Harry Potter Lexicon, based on a website created by Steven Vander Ark, a 50-year-old who counts himself among Ms Rowling's most devoted readers.

Mr Vander Ark wept openly when he was asked to reflect on what the case had done to his relationship with the community of Harry Potter fans.

"It's been ... it's been," he stammered, choking on his words. "It's been difficult because there has been a lot of criticism, obviously, and that was never the intention.

"This has been an important part of my life for the last nine years or so."

He said his only goal had been to celebrate Ms Rowling, who he called a "genius".