Harry Potter has been a global phenomenon since the first book was released in 1997. It has since become a multi-billion-dollar film franchise and has spawned numerous spin-offs and merchandise. However, it has recently been revealed that the plot of the fourth book in the series, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, may have been copied from another book.
The estate of late author Adrian Jacobs had said that the plot of the book, the fourth of seven in the wildly successful series, copied parts of the plot of his book “Willy the Wizard,” including a wizard contest, and that Rowling borrowed the idea of a magical tournament from Jacobs’ book. Jacobs’ estate sued J.K. Rowling and her publisher, Bloomsbury, for copyright infringement in 2007.
The case was dismissed in 2011, with the judge ruling that there was not enough evidence to prove that Rowling had copied Jacobs’ work. However, the similarities between the two books are striking. In Willy the Wizard, a wizarding tournament is held in which the contestants must compete in various magical tasks. Similarly, in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, a magical tournament is held in which the contestants must compete in various magical tasks.
In addition, both books feature a character who is a magical creature, and both books feature a character who is a “dark wizard”. While the judge ruled that there was not enough evidence to prove that Rowling had copied Jacobs’ work, the similarities between the two books are undeniable.
It is unclear whether Rowling was aware of Jacobs’ book when she wrote Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, or if the similarities between the two books are simply a coincidence. What is clear, however, is that the similarities between the two books are striking and that the case has raised questions about the originality of Rowling’s work.