Rowling, Inc., to Follow Christie Estate Lead and Commission Harry Potter Fan Fiction Under Its Own Trademark Brand?

Hercule Poirot is to test his famous grey cells once again in a “new” Agatha Christie novel – the first featuring the Belgian detective since Christie’s death in 1976.

 

Christie is the latest author to be resurrected by her estate, following novels in the style of Ian Fleming and PG Wodehouse written by contemporary authors. Bestselling crime writer Sophie Hannah is to write the as-yet untitled novel in Christie’s style, which will be published next year.

She said: “Writing a book with Poirot in it will be like writing about someone I know really well. I’ve read all the books so many times – I wouldn’t want to do this for any other writer. It was Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple who, between them, made me want to devote my working life to crime fiction.” The work, published by HarperCollins, will be the first fully-authorised Poirot novel since the author’s death.

“The argument that might convince her is that it’s an attempt to reintroduce an already enthusiastic public to the books she wrote. That would have made her sympathetic to what we’re trying to do. When we heard that someone of Sophie’s eminence wanted to be involved in a project like this, we felt the opportunity was too good to miss.”

(1) I’m guessing the Christie Estate is not doing this to “revive interest” in a cash-cow property. Am I right in believing it is to protect the originals from entering the Public Domain, i.e., the same reason the Dr. Seuss continues to come up with new products around the old properties lest they become everybody’s plaything (and money maker)?

The text of the originals will still enter the public domain, but these new stories may prevent the copyright in the character of Poirot from entering the public domain, which would mean only the Christie estate and its designees could sell stories with him. However, someone else could write about any of the less completely drawn characters, and can reprint those books for sale or free distribution, and as ebooks once the original Christies are in the public domain.

(2b) If not, how cold will her body be before her Estate commissions one to release the Warner Brothers money-making machine and re-prime the Theme Park pump?

Copyright in a work lasts for 70 years after the physical death of the author in both the US and the UK under current law (http://www.ipo.gov.uk/c-duration-faq-lasts.htm). So the Harry Potter series won’t enter the public domain in our lifetimes, no matter what. Which is good! But, still, just think of how groundbreaking and awardwinning “The Hermione Granger Diaries” will be in 2213, or the audience reactions to every three-episode serieses of “SIRIUS” produced by some future incarnation of the BBC.

Thank you, Heidi! I’m guessing none of you think it is likely that Rowling, Inc., will ever franchise out the Wizarding World story-telling, even to first tier writers (or screenwriters for that matter — don’t ever forget the pressure from Warner Brothers to follow-up on the most successful film franchise ever). Here are reasons that Ms Rowling would approve of such licensing:

A. She’s tired of hearing the whiny requests for more Harry Potter-like stories when she’s creating other works, other worlds, in other genres for readers to enjoy. Call this the ‘Throw Them a Bone’ motivation or ‘Get Off My Back. Will ‘Ya?’

B. She has a series of charitable institutions she has founded and others she supports. That she has donated all her Cuckoo’s Calling royalties to charity reflects that she still isn’t hurting for money — but it also suggests she works for her charities now. Commissioned work revives interest in the original books and keeps the MS Society, Caged Children, and Wounded Warrior projects up and running.

C. Ms. Rowling is generous to a fault but there is a streak of bitterness and pride that is hard to miss in her continued complaints about her suffering as a dole recipient while she was writing the first Harry Potter novel. She should, of course, be grateful that there was a safety net to help her regain her footing (a net her tax dollars have certainly made that much stronger!) but it is a rare person that accepts government help gracefully. Forgive me for wondering if she might not become bitter, too, if, after a few more of her writing experiments fail to meet the Hogwarts Saga bar of expectations (as they all must, alas), if she doesn’t decide to open the gates and flood the market with Potter stories every few months.

Okay, that’s not probable, I admit. But I’d love to read your ideas, like Heidi’s above about Neil Gaiman writing an Elizabethan Hogwarts tale or two. What author(s) would you commission to write which stories?

Hat tip to Dolores for the Independent link!