I would regard text available on a website for free, in my own home, all readily indexed and cross-referenced, as more dangerous competion than the same information printed in a book, which had to be paid for and thumbed through.
The lexicon has been there for a long period, long enough for it to be used in the creation of later books. She has been taking advantage of his work.and there is no evidence that she delayed, so "suddenly" seems like a strange word for you to use.
I think it is you being cynical. (A good quantity of stones and no panes left in my glass house.) I believe the lexicon author when he said it was done for love at the start. I am also sure that he is smart enough to see there might be a profit in it. I also believe that it wil not be a huge seller until Harry Potter enters the world of literay exams. (if he is not there already.)We know any book based on JKs ideas will make money and if the "loyal fans" require "recompense for all of their efforts over the years" they are not what i would call loyal. I'd call them cynical, exploitive and greedy.
AJR should have had this material already for publishing. She would not have made the mistakes she did if she had kept better track of her fantasy world. She possibly avoided others by referencing the website.
It is my guess that she would lose the case if it went through the legal process, but I doubt the lexicons side have pockets deep enough.
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