Harry Potter Wiki
Advertisement
Harry Potter Wiki

"I have been enjoying sharing information about Harry’s world on Pottermore for free, and don’t have any firm plans to publish it in book form."
J. K. Rowling FAQ answer, confirming she no longer has any solid plans for this book

The Encyclopaedia of Potterworld,[1] also called the Scottish Book, is a planned guidebook by J. K. Rowling as the authoritative directory of all the creatures, characters, places, and other elements that comprise the Harry Potter universe, containing mostly un-published notes, letters, drawings, etc. As of May 2012, this project appears to been postponed or cancelled in favour of Pottermore, now known as Wizarding World.

Publication[]

In an interview with PotterCast, Rowling stated that she definitely intended to write the encyclopaedia, but wished not to rush the process.

In court testimony in April 2008 (regarding grounds of copyright infringement) Rowling stated that she had 'recently' begun working on the project.[2]

On 4 September, 2009, the Leaky Cauldron website reported that Rowling's fellow author, friend, and neighbour, Ian Rankin, mentioned in a BBC interview that Rowling had been "making family trees of all her characters", presumably for the encyclopaedia.[3]

On 13 April, 2012, she confirmed that she had started work on the project, and that all royalties made from the project would be donated to charity.[4]

However, in May 2012, Rowling updated her official site to say that she no longer had "firm plans" to publish an encyclopaedia in book form, saying that she was currently choosing to share information on Pottermore for free instead.[5]

Lawsuit against outside source encyclopaedias[]

With the lawsuit of Warner Bros and J. K. Rowling versus RDR Books, which overlooks the possible publication of Vandar Ark's printed version of his online site HP Lexicon; J. K. Rowling took legal action to defend her fictional world and the possibility of herself creating her own version of an encyclopaedia or companion book to go along with the Harry Potter series.

Preliminary statement[]

"In this action, a distinguished and tremendously successful novelist demands the suppression of a reference guide to her works. J. K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books, asserts that this reference guide infringes both her copyright in the seven Potter novels and her right to publish, at some unidentified point in the future, a reference guide of her own. In support of her position she appears to claim a monopoly on the right to publish literary reference guides, and other non-academic research, relating to her own fiction." "This is a right no court has ever recognised. It has little to recommend it. If accepted, it would dramatically extend the reach of copyright protection, and eliminate an entire genre of literary supplements: third party reference guides to fiction, which for centuries have helped readers better access, understand and enjoy literary works. By extension, it would threaten not just reference guides, but encyclopaedias, glossaries, indexes, and other tools that provide useful information about copyrighted works. Ms. Rowling's intellectual property rights simply do not extend so far and, even if they did, she has not shown that the publication of this reference guide poses a sufficient threat of irreparable harm to justify an injunction. Her preliminary injunction motion should be denied."[6]

Possibility of fan-made encyclopaedias[]

Based of the Preliminary Statement above it is possible for fans to create their own version of a Harry Potter encyclopaedia and have it printed as a book with the possibility of collecting royalities of the publicated encyclopaedia. Even with the possibility of creating an actual physical Harry Potter encyclopaedia the said person creating it could possibility face legal action against it publication from J. K. Rowling's legal team.

Contents[]

If published, subjects covered might include the method of creating a Horcrux, the manner in which Peter Pettigrew gave Lord Voldemort a rudimentary body, and the reasons for Florean Fortescue's murder.[7]

Behind the scenes[]

  • J. K. Rowling's calling it "The Scottish Book" is a reference to the way the play Macbeth is called "The Scottish Play," as it is considered bad luck to speak the play's name out loud, particularly before a performance.[1]

Notes and references[]

J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series
Philosopher's Stone book film games film soundtrack game soundtrack
Chamber of Secrets book film games film soundtrack game soundtrack
Prisoner of Azkaban book film games film soundtrack game soundtrack
Goblet of Fire book film games film soundtrack game soundtrack
Order of the Phoenix book film game film soundtrack game soundtrack
Half-Blood Prince book film games film soundtrack game soundtrack
Deathly Hallows book film 1 games 1 film soundtrack 1 game soundtrack 1
film 2 games 2 film soundtrack 2 game soundtrack 2
Cursed Child script play
Fantastic Beasts film series
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them book screenplay film game film soundtrack
The Crimes of Grindelwald screenplay film   film soundtrack
The Secrets of Dumbledore screenplay film   film soundtrack
Other written works Other games
Quidditch Through the Ages Wonderbook: Book of Spells / Wonderbook: Book of Potions
The Tales of Beedle the Bard Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup
Harry Potter prequel Harry Potter: Find Scabbers
Encyclopaedia of Potterworld (potentially cancelled) Harry Potter DVD Game: Hogwarts Challenge / Wizarding World
Pottermore Presents Harry Potter: Spells
The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac
Harry Potter Page to Screen: The Complete Filmmaking Journey / Harry Potter Limited Edition LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 / LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
LEGO Harry Potter: Building the Magical World LEGO Dimensions
LEGO Harry Potter Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Motorbike Escape
Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Book Harry Potter: The Quest
J. K. Rowling: A Bibliography Harry Potter for Kinect
Harry Potter: The Character Vault / Harry Potter: The Creature Vault / Harry Potter: The Artifact Vault Wizard's Challenge
Harry Potter Film Wizardry Fantastic Beasts: Cases from the Wizarding World
The Case of Beasts: Explore the Film Wizardry of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Harry Potter Trading Card Game
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Art of The Film LEGO Creator: Harry Potter / Creator: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
The Archive of Magic: The Film Wizardry of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
The Art of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
Harry Potter: The Wand Collection Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells
J. K. Rowling's Wizarding World: Movie Magic Volume One: Extraordinary People and Fascinating Places / Volume Two: Curious Creatures / Volume Three: Amazing Artifacts Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
Hogwarts Legacy
Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions
Other canon Other films / documentaries
J. K. Rowling's official site Harry Potter and Me
Pottermore / Wizarding World The Queen's Handbag
J. K. Rowling's X account J. K. Rowling: A Year in the Life
Harry Potter: The Exhibition Magic Beyond Words: The J.K. Rowling Story
The Making of Harry Potter Harry Potter: Beyond the Page
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
IndividualsPlacesCreaturesTranslations - Cover arts
Advertisement