Wyrd Sisters continue Harry Potter battle with studio
The Winnipeg folk group The Wyrd Sisters plans to continue its battle against the movie studio behind the Harry Potter films despite another legal setback, a lawyer says.
The group has been fighting the movie studio Warner Brothers since late 2005 over a scene in the film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire that depicts a band of the same name.
The group’s lawyer, Kimberly Townley-Smith, said Monday that The Wyrd Sisters plan to appeal last week’s Ontario Supreme Court ruling that ordered them to pay $140,000 in legal costs for Warner Brothers.
“We will be appealing the disposition of costs,” Townley-Smith said.
The studio, which still faces a $40-million lawsuit brought by the band, welcomed the recent Ontario court ruling.
“We’re extremely hopeful that we will continue to prevail in this case,” Warner Brothers spokesman Scott Rowe said from Los Angeles.
It was not clear when the court would hold a hearing for the lawsuit.
Failed injunction bid
In November 2005, The Wyrd Sisters failed in a bid to block the release of the film.
The group argued that it had owned the trademark to the name in Canada since 1990 and the release of the movie, which featured a band with the same name portrayed by members of Radiohead and Pulp, would ruin its reputation.
The film is based on Scottish author J. K. Rowling’s hit book, in which there is a band called the “Weird Sisters” รณ a term inspired by William Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
Warner Brothers has said it tried to reach a deal with the folk group to use the name, but the sides were unable to come to an agreement.
While some have criticized the group and called the legal battle a publicity stunt, Wyrd Sisters member Kim Baryluk has said the lawsuit was meant to protect their trademark and work as musicians.
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