Another child's Christmas ruined by Warner Brothers

No you can't like Harry Potter and be interested in computers

By Kieren McCarthy • Get more from this author

Posted in Music and Media, 19th December 2000 18:01 GMT

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We've covered Claire Field's legal troubles with the domain www.harrypotterguide.co.uk but were equally appalled by the self-same situation involving a ten-year-old girl.

Scotsman Steve McDonald registered www.harry-potter-magic.co.uk for his daughter, but was shocked to find legal letters and bolshy lawyers breathing down his neck soon after. As Steve explains it: "I got the domain because I thought I'd try to get my daughter interested in PC things. She loves Harry Potter, so I thought using that I could get her working on computers - which will be useful later on in life."

Sadly not. He was originally sent an email asking him what he intended to do with the site and explained. He also offered that if the relevant people were upset about his use of the domain name, he'd hand it over if they could tell him which domain name they wouldn't be offended by and would send his daughter some Harry Potter goods.

Steve then entered into communication with Neil Blair - who is running all the Harry Potter domain disputes in this country - who, to his credit, recognised Steve's position and pointed out that he was behind him but it was difficult to pick out who were actual cybersquatters and who weren't. So far, so good.

However, while Steve felt the situation had been resolved, he soon after received a legal letter insisting the domain be handed over to Warner Brothers. The same old story. Can you see anything wrong with this situation? We are, yet again, unimpressed. ®