Legal Question in Intellectual Property in California

I have been following the Allen v. Scholastic Inc. case and there claims that I find a little disturbing and absurd. The plaintiff (Allen) believes that there are 'similar ideas' in both works and accused JK Rowling copied ides from Willy the Wizard. I do see some similar ideas in both work, as well as many other works. An example is that both works have "the idea that both protagonist works with friendship and teamwork", my view that this idea I see happen all the time and this idea goes way back since 1844 with "The Three Musketeers", maybe even further. So I wonder how the plaintiff don't believe it is possible that Rowling's work and ideas were influence by any other works or real life events experiences (the first rule in writing) and she did actually COPIED from Willy the Wizard by reading it?

So here are my two main questions, the first one is there is a way that I can help the defendant and his/her lawyers to win this case without a law license? The second is it possible you can be sued for having similar ideas as the fact that this idea has been used many times before?

Hardy, William


Asked on 12/25/10, 2:44 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
George Shers Law Offices of Georges H. Shers

It is nice that you want to help the writer out, but she has adequate funds to hire an experienced attorney to handle the matter. You could write a very, very short letter to the attorney asking what you could do to help but do not be surprised if there is no response.

You can not copy right an idea, but you can the method of presenting it.

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Answered on 12/31/10, 3:06 pm


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