July 15, 2007
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Harry Potter
Approximately £10 million has been spent on the security measures to protect the secret of the Harry Potter book.
The security includes an “army of guards” and satellite tracking systems. The book is housed in secure sites across the country. Several dozen security teams guard the sites. Some of the security staff are armed with guard dogs.
Mobile phones and packed lunches were banned from the printing plant. Some of the employees are said to have worked in “near-darkness” to stop them from reading the book.
The trucks delivering the books have satellite tracking systems to make sure the trucks don’t deviate from their route. The books are on sealed pallets with alarms.
Apparently four years ago a man was sentenced to 180 hours of community service for stealing pages out of the book from a printing plant. Last year, a man was jailed for 4 1/2 years for stealing copies of Harry Potter and trying to sell them.
Rowling was also contacted in the last few weeks asking her to tell the ending for a terminally-ill relative that might not live until the release.
Here is the link: Link
Have we lost it?
Comments (128)
Not really , I’d die for that book
YES. We have lost it. Geez.
This is rather strange, one shall admit, but I think that it would be seriously annoying if someone stole stuff from my book and published it online or sold it all out to people before the publication date…
It is strange from a customers point of view but I think it’s fair enough. I wish they were this stringent about music theft/illegal downloading–that happens a lot more often and it hurts much more people.
Oh my God!
That’s crazy -_-
She’s the first billionaire author.
And its the last Harry Potter book ever.
I can understand the strict security measures. ^_^
I’m a HUGE fan of the HP books and movies… but yes… we’ve lost it… that type of security and secrecy… and the want to steal is… CRAZY! *offers these people some of my Zoloft* eat up people… and chill the fuck out!
I am unsure
Harry Potter books are the Mark of the Beast!
Not really , I’d die for that book
erotica_fashion (message)
Oh, that’s not an ironic comment on craziness.
Apparently, the last book at least was easy to get a copy of. I knew people who had read it two weeks before the launch. When copies are sent to Chinese printers and publishers, all you have to do is pay them, and they’ll give you a copy. They don’t care about rules, just money.
If she has the money for that, why not?
yes!!!! i understand copyrights but its a BOOK. get a grip people.
wow. i’m excited to read but are you serious?
YES!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, we’re crazy for living in a world where people so desperately want to ruin a good reading experience by spoiling the end that all this security is necessary. I remember when someone told me the ending to the Sixth Sense before I got to see it. It totally sucked, but there are many assholes out there who don’t care about that. They just think they’re funny.
Hey, I’m just glad that people are still literate…
Hey, it’s all about “the magic moment.” If spoilers get out, that won’t happen.
10 million pounds wasted, since that guy published the ending a few weeks ago.
we are completely insane. I want to know what happens, but I wouldn’t violently fight people for it.
They have that much security for Harry Potter, yet they let terrorists sneak across the borders and blow things up. No, we haven’t lost it. Our priorities have changed in favor of the almighty dollar.
Lost it? No. I’d rather obsess about things like Harry Potter than some of the worst of the world’s ills.
Jesus. It’s just a fucking book.
I can’t believe people have commented saying they would die for the HP books. I like the books alright, but WOW. Just WOW.
Obsessive, creepy fans have kind of ruined the series for me. I’ll still read the book when it comes out, but I wish everyone and their cousins weren’t such stupid fangirls over A DAMN BOOK SERIES.
No.
I certainly don’t want anyone spoiling the end of such a fun franchise by getting their hands on it early. It’s also about the fact that these publishers have a LOT of money on the line, and were the book (or any information regarding its plot) to be released early, these companies stand to lose millions.
Yes, it’s just a book, but for some of us, this book is the end of nearly 10 years of our lives, and we don’t want it spoiled by some dumb-ass who thinks it’s funny to ruin these sorts of things for everyone else. We want to savor it, just as we have the previous 6 books, and discover the end on our own.
Pretty much.
Almost..
“Obsessive, creepy fans have kind of ruined the series for me. I’ll still read the book when it comes out, but I wish everyone and their cousins weren’t such stupid fangirls over A DAMN BOOK SERIES.”
I agree…. At the last book release, I saw so many girls wearing ‘save a broom, ride a ‘ and I was disgusted… Granted, most of these people found out about the books through the movies and conflate Harry Potter with Daniel Radcliffe, but still. It’s weird.
* uh, apparently Xanga didn’t like text between <>, but that was supposed to be *insert HP character here* after ‘ride a’…
No, that’s part of its dramatization.
Nope we have not lost it and thank God. When Dickens serials finally came to the states there were mobs to meet the boats. I read once that thousands of people lined up to buy the sections that eventually became whole novels. He wrote them with cliff hangers at the end of each one and that added to the frenzy.
Can you imagine what 30K people on a public boat dock would look like today much less in Dickens’ time? It would be unbelievable and there would be injuries too. But it happened and that it still happens, that people can get excited about a story and care about something outside of themselves that in some way connects us all represents more hope for us as a species than most other things.
It illustrates our need and desire to see beyond our own existence and that is in itself a gift.
I would never balk at people’s desire to read or to know something. Better to balk at ignorance and be amused and heartened by enthusiasm.
Well. I guess so! I’m very much looking forward to the books too, and I’m excited, but this stuff is just nuts.
Hm… though I agree with Boo’s sentiments as well. At least this is getting a lot of people reading.
Fiction books are serious business.
It’s the last book. The security measures seem appropriate.
While I’m enjoying the hype, yes we have.
But yea that Books are so exciting!
Go to the library and check out other exciting books!
No one could ever read enough.
Yes, I think we have lost it. I don’t think I have to explain myself.
That’s ridiculous. They’re going to get their money, anyway.
♥
yes we have. But to sell the book they wanted that buzz. Look at the iphone rollout…
Rowling really doesn’t have a part in this. In her interviews, it seems hard for her to keep it in.
People already know the ending. I’ll throw a fit if someone ruins it for me, and I’m risking that by going to the midnight release, but that’s my decision.
I’m not sure fines and prison are a good way to handle this, but then again, I’m not sure what else could be done.
The fact that someone would compare Rowling to Dickens tells me that we lost it a long time ago.
It was lost a long time ago when the first person read the first harry potter book.
That is so ridiculous. Someone gets more prison time for taking Harry Potter books than some child molesters and murders do.
We all know how the public loves witchcraft tho.
.
quite.
let’s not forget how the truck drivers can’t even stop to take a pee.
yes we’ve lost it.
Completely. It’s the end (thank goodness) to an idiotic series of events not possible in real life. I hope she kills them all so there will no chance of more books.
NO!.. well yes. we, as just PEOPLE, lost it when paris was out of jail and her “walk out” was BREAKING NEWS on every respectable news channel.
there’s no such thing as “losing it” over harry potter
idk what you’re talking abt lol
absolutely
hahahaha
absolutely, dan.
No, I’d probably beat someone to death with a broken lawn chair for Harry Potter 7.
Boo is my hero. This isn’t about money, it’s about literature. Pick up a damn book, kiddos!
they could just steal her garbage and find out that way too.
Wow that’s pretty extreme…but it’s somewhat understandable? I mean, a guy steals copies and tries to sell them off because he knows how big these books are. There are probably people out there that could seize these trucks for the books. Harry Potter is pretty big and people would do ANYTHING to get their hands on it.
You’ve all totally lost it. I’m sorry but it’s just an f’ing book, ok! These people need to get a freaking real life, cause they obviously don’t have one.
If you want to read something, fine, find something that might help you relate to real life.
This is a CHILDREN’S book here people!! Does anyone here understand the concept of childhood fantasy? As opposed to adult life? Yet how many “adults” are reading this shit and going to Midnight premieres of the movie? That’s right, they had a MIDNIGHT premiere here at an IMAX big screen theater. For a KIDS movie! And it sold out! What the hell is up with that?!?
I’m sorry, but what’s her name (I’m not even gonna say her name cause you’ll all freak out on hearing it) is seeing nothing but big paychecks and she’s gonna ride it out till the end.
And why? Because of all you (those) morons.
Ok, that’s all I got to say about it. ~g~
LOL- It’s Harry Freaking Potter. Would you expect anything less crazy?
Did we have it?
No.
People just don’t want to know what happens before they read the damn thing.
Obviously.. ha ha
Harry Potter is the anti-Christ.
Haha yes.
It’s so great that she could make nearly everyone so enthusiastic about reading.
Umm, YEAH, we HAVE lost it. Obviously. It’s just a book, people!
yes, those people care way too much about Potter. I could care less.
I would say so !!
Nobody ever went this crazy for a Dr. Suess book, and that guy had talent!
“The fact that someone would compare Rowling to Dickens tells me that we lost it a long time ago.”
Hahaha agreed. Come on now people.
Boowasborn, I “balk” at this idiocy because while it is fantastic that people like to read and be interested in something, these people are taking it to an unhealthily obsessive level.
I’m also kind of confused about the whole reading thing. Harry Potter is NOT a difficult series to read. I’d be far more impressed if people started reading Shakespeare again or started mobbing bookstores for “The Name of the Rose”. Not a fantasy book that is fairly uncomplex and very easy to swallow
What do you mean ‘we’?
I would burn it! It is Satan’s plan to get all the people he can to his place. Satan is in many forms and that included witchcrafts. He is working very hard to trick on people and in the mid-time he is laughing at you for believing that witchcraft isn’t a part of him.
maybe…? lol, this is a little excessive, for a book.
nope
jk rowling could own the world if someone read that book early
shes probably sue like crazy!
**she’d**
Yes.
Totally.
. . .But I AM about to start over and read them (and let my two oldest kids read them). I read the first two years ago, when the third hadn’t even come out.
I’m not going to remember what happened in the last book anyway. It’s just going to be a contest to see who can read it the fastest
crazy.
I don’t know how this writer has the nerve to annoy us with her little plots in a world where the fabulous Paris Hilton exists.
I haven’t lost it. Everyone else has.
Definately.
no. i love harry potter. i’d be extremely disappointed if i found out the ending before i read it.
we’re getting there. At least there has been no death sentences for people who screw up the ending for everyone…
If only people would stop trying to ruin the book for others, this would not be necessary.
*rolls eyes*
haha. no. but i wouldn’t kill anyone for a book, or die for it.
Wow.
As much as I like that book & don’t want the secret or whatever to leak out before the release I believe that, yes, we have lost it.
the books*
Heh.
Some people have.
i think it’s understandable… mostly.
but also crazy
i’m glad that there is so much security for a book though! it’s cool
I think some people have. Unless I’m missing something…but I dont think I am.
Without a doubt.
for fucks sake!!! that IS insane! D:
good god! all these security measures are insane!!! we’ve completely lost it. How bout we spend all this money on something actually worthwhile…???
Wow…that’s hardcore.
I still haven’t even read one.
Those security measures are insane and unecessary…then again, I’m not a Harry Potter fan.
Harry Potter… As usual I have very little to say, so my .03 seconds of fame on this post is me saying yet again I have yet to read a harry potter book.
Sitting and staring off into space while binge drinking is oh so much more rewarding.
In a way it’s kind of promising that a book recieves this much hype…but at the same time you’ve got to consider the actual content of the book and who it originally was geared towards.
people are crazy about hp
wow people calm down. it comes out in a week
high expectations leads to high hopes which leads to high disappointment and so on and so forth
There was rumored to be a shortage of books and I have had people coming to the bookstore I worked all day asking me if they would get their copy of the book, especially if they reserved a copy. “You will get your book. You have nothing to worry about.” We we will even have extra copies even – for those who have not reserved a copy.
The best thing about the whole Harry Potter book, is that we had to sign a waiver PROMISING that we would not open any of the boxes until midnight Friday night/Saturday morning (hence the reason why the books do not start getting sold until 12:01). It is madness!
Rowling has proven, even as much as I don’t want to admit it, that she is an author that needs to be read. Why? Because she has caught the attention of the WORLD and not many authors can pull that off.
Is it absurd that people are going crazy over a book? Maybe. Have we lost it? No. Before HP there were plenty of other things people went crazy over – Star Wars for example and Star Trek and people who Cosplay. Harry Potter is just a broader form. More people are into it.
And it’s always been against the rules to read/sell books before the release date. It just has to be enforced with HP. Especially since big bucks could be lost to the agency and made for the criminal.
I haven’t. I don’t know about anyone else.
We “lost it” a long time ago!
Most definitely.
If only that much effort was put into something worthwhile. We could do something significant.
We? Not me. But obviously some people have lost it over these books. I am happy to say, I’ve not read one of the books nor have I seen any of the movies. I don’t intend too either. But I don’t see anything wrong with reading them as entertainment. I don’t understand the hysteria over them however.
I have too many more important books to read. Right now I’m reading “Born to Rule” by Julia P Gelardi. It is about Queen Victoria’s five granddaughters who became reigning consorts. One of the granddaughters was Alexandra of Russia and I think everyone should know from history what happened to her and her husband, the Tsar, and their children. All murdered in the Russian revolution. I’ll pass on the Potter books.
At least we’re losing it over a series of books that have encouraged millions of children to read and love reading. I consider that a much more worthy cause than movies or celebrities.
Man we sure HAVE lost it =___=
jk rowling is a billionaire
millions of kids around the world want that book
and people everywhere will do anything to get their hands on it
it’s pretty understandable despite how crazy it is
No we haven’t.. and only those that have followed the book and love to read would understand.
and only idiots would write something like, “Have we lost it?”
totally….
i’m a fan, but that’s just loony.
Its just a book…
yes. it´s official. we have lost it. if people know the end of the book are they not going to buy it? i download music and i buy the CD´s. everyone needs to respect each other and their creativity. art should be respected.
yes we have lost it, its just a book
erotica_fashion: Not really, I’d die for that book.
I completely agree with you.
It’s not just a book.
there are so many fake endings out there i don’t think anyone would know the difference if the real one was leaked. but yes, i think we’ve gone a bit bananas. i’m pretty excited about the book myself, but it is, after all, just a book.
Not yet. When that book actually comes out…. Dear God, I’m staying away from all bookstores for two weeks.
kinda sad that this amount of security has become necessary actually…
Of course we lost it IT’S HARRY POTTER COMMON!!!!!!!
One of my friends downloaded it yesterday.
I always thought authors were careful concerning their books to make sure that the idea wasn’t stolen before it was published. I can understand someone wanting to be careful to make sure no one will steal the idea.
However if you don’t know that Rowling is the authoress and creator of all things Harry Potter it is likely you do not know how to button your pants either.
Rowling makes millions off the books, off the movies. They’re spending millions to ensure that the oh-so-sacred book won’t be read before it’s officially due.
My thoughts?
Who cares?
Whether the dumbass end of the book is known today or two weeks from now, what’s the big deal? Is Rowling really going to lose THAT much money because some curious librarian opened the book two days before it’s officially due? Is some lunatic really going to attack a bunch of guards with dogs because he can’t wait a couple more days to read the flippin’ book?
Honestly I don’t think “lost it” is the right phrase. I think “shtupid” may be the better word. They’re just plain dumb.
Either that or they figure it’s a great way to make good publicity.
Heeeyyy… that’s an awesome idea, come to think of it. I’ll go tell the media my new book that’s coming out is TOP SECRET with old letters from Bush, and Clinton… letters with a conspiracy a-foot, and I’ll hire a guy to try and attack a truckload of the books, and then they’ll have guards stand by and make a huge fuss over it and I’ll make millions!
No–o… they haven’t lost it. No one’s losing it. It’s all marketing. Yessir.
No.
But the ultra-conservative Christian assholes who are the ones going out and ruining the books for the people that actually enjoy the books are. Yes the ultra conservative Christian assholes have lost it, but not those who need Jesus to get through our day.
g-a-g-m-e.
Whats this?0_o:
http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/7743/epilogueyd4.jpg
lol
I would murder anyone who tells me the ending. Seriously. Ooh. I was browsing through Xanga layouts the other year. When the 6th book came out and BAM. I saw the ending. “Snape kills Dumbledore on page ***. There I just saved you 6 hours and 35 dollars.” Thank goodness, I read the book already. I swear. I am going to flame that Xangan the next time I see that site.
Yeah. Just wanted to share that story.
Yup.
Yes
Is the publishing company paying for all the security or what?
I’d battle 1000 orcs for that book!
That’s nuts!! Very cool, but nuts!
Yeah. So did she give it to the dying guy?