School: Lexicon of Curses

We're wrapping up the semester, and Copyrights class has meandered into all sorts of smaller topics. We've already hit the big stuff - what material can be copyrighted, infringement, fair use - and it's not too hard to grasp the important bits.

The application of the law in this area is fascinating, though. Unlike some other subjects, copyright infringement is highly visible all around us, from Front Sight's recent pilfering of Marko's "The Gun is Civilization" essay to Ms. Rowling getting pissed over a Harry Potter fansite's new book.

The website run by the book's author is the Harry Potter Lexicon (no link because the site's down at the moment). Given the fact that J.K. Rowling has more money than God, and, along with Warner Bros., can probably afford some of the best IP lawyers on the planet, it'll be interesting to see if the challenge holds water.