Harry Potter and the Lawyerly Embargoes
Let the media frenzy and the court injunctions begin: the publication date for the seventh and final Harry Potter novel has been announced. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will hit bookstore shelves worldwide – as well as department stores, toy stores, magic shops, and probably some gas stations, clothing boutiques, and tackle shops – on July 21.
In a related story, Raincoast’s lawyers have cancelled their July vacation plans.
In fact, it’s interesting to compare the various publishers’ press releases announcing the good news. U.S. publisher Scholastic makes no mention of any embargo. Over in the U.K., Bloomsbury tells us that “Sale of the book in all time zones is embargoed until….” (emphasis added). And here in Canada, Raincoast is a little less specific, saying only that “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is embargoed until….” Remember, folks, no unlawful reading.
