JK Rowling Halts Unofficial Print of 'Harry Potter' Encyclopedia

Judge Robert Patterson said in a ruling Monday that Rowling had proven that Steven Vander Ark's "Harry Potter Lexicon" would cause her "irreparable harm as a writer," according to Reuters.

The Lexicon is a 400-page reference book based on his popular fan Web site, including a catalog of magical creatures, wizard biographies, lists of spells and potions found in the books.

Rowling sued RDR Books, based in Michigan, in October last year to stop publication of the lexicon on the grounds that it copied huge portions of her stories without adding any original thought or interpretation.

Patterson ruled that RDR "had failed to establish an affirmative defense of fair use" and that publication of the book should not proceed.

Vander Ark wanted to the Harry Potter guide to be priced at about $24.95.

Rowling said earlier this year she plans to write her own definitive Harry Potter encyclopedia, which would include material that did not make it into the novels, and donate the proceeds to charity.

Vander Ark also runs the popular Harry Potter Lexicon Web site, which currently gets 25 million monthly visitors.

Meanwhile, a Harry Potter video game that was expected to bring in $120 million in revenue will be delayed until next summer, the game's creator Electronic Arts said on Monday.

EA said the game, which is based on the upcoming movie "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," will be released in the summer of 2009, coinciding with the release of the film.