The Hindu : New Delhi News : Protecting Harry Potter from pirates

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007
ePaper

New Delhi

New Delhi

Protecting Harry Potter from pirates

This is one threat that Harry Potter is depending completely on muggles for protection. The best guarded secret in publishing history, security for “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”, which will be released on July 21, is unprecedented because it finally answers the big question: Will Harry survive?

Tight vigil

Not taking any chances in India -- known for its reputation for cheap copies -- Penguin Books India together with Bloomsbury has ensured that they are prepared for anything that might spoil the magic. The book that will be released at 6-30 a.m. on D-day has a legal team that will work in close association with the police to “protect” Potter.

From vigilance cells that will be set up across the country to a 24-hour helpline, the last book of this record-breaking series has too much money riding on it.

“Our instructions are to initiate criminal cases against businesses and persons found organising and dealing in the piracy of `Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’. Indian copyright law is very stringent as far as enforcement is concerned. Any person found dealing in pirated copies of Harry Potter can be arrested and charged with infringement of copyright, which is punishable with imprisonment for up to three years and fine,” warns Ashish Chittranshi, head of ACA Law that has been hired by Penguin India Books to keep the secret safe. IP Boutique has also been retained to keep a watch on “known offenders” . While there has been a scare with the Bloomsbury site being hacked and the hackers pasting the alleged ending on the Internet, for all serious Potter fans, the secret is still safe.

Mandira Nayar

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