I admit it. I’m a Harry Potter fan (albeit perhaps not a die-hard fan). I’ve “read” all the books a la Jim Dale’s superb audiobook narration
and I’ve seen four of the films and have every intention of eventually catching films nos. 5 – 7 by dvd or netflix one day soon.
Now that the final film is out, how will extreme fans get their next Harry-Potter-fix? Here are some suggestions for the fans who want to keep things
legal:
Websites & Books. Fans can create websites, social media networks, and reference books that explore and expand the Harry Potter world. J.K. Rowling and Warner
Brothers typically welcome most such fan creations. And even if they didn’t, the First Amendment gives all fans the right to comment on and even criticize
or parody the object of their fandom.
Fan Fiction/Films. Fan fiction and fan films are potential avenues for Harry Potter fans. While much fan fiction and fan films qualify as copyright infringement, Rowling
has embraced fan fiction as long as it remains non-commercial and does not push the Harry Potter world into highly objectionable directions.
The Caveat. Nevertheless, Harry Potter fans should be aware that their idolatry can go beyond legal boundaries. Fan don’ts include selling products or commercial
advertising in conjunction with fan creations and inaccurately referring to their offerings as the “official, authorized versions”. Rowling did file a
lawsuit against a Michigan-based publisher that planned to publish a 400-page Harry Potter compendium duplicating much of Rowling’s original writing.