Spell of trouble for Harry Potter’ club

A WOMAN running an underground supper club at her home was warned off using the Harry Potter trademark by film studio Warner Bros.

The Kilburn entrepreneur, who goes by the pseudonym Ms Marmite Lover, planned a themed Harry Potter night over Halloween with a menu inspired by the food in the wizarding world, with treats such as 'witches hat pumpkin pasties,' 'Butterbeer' and 'cauldron cakes.'

But she was forced to change the name of the ticket event when Warner Bros warned her that the dinners would infringe their rights.

The single mum, reproducing the letter on her blog, quoted Warner Bros: 'While we are delighted that you are such a fan of the Harry Potter series, unfortunately your proposed use of the Harry Potter Properties without our consent would amount to an infringement of Warner's rights.' The studio, maker of the Harry Potter films, told Mrs Marmite Lover it owns the right to Harry Potter property including the 'name, stylized logo, names of the characters, themes, incidents and other associated indicia from the series of Harry Potter books and films.' But the company was generous enough to add: 'Warner does not, of course, object to you holding a generic wizard/Halloween night at the underground restaurant.'

Ms Marmite Lover, 40, said: "It's disappointing that Warner Bros reacted like this to a genuine fan night.

"I won't be making money out of this meal as I've spent a great deal on ingredients like Miracle Berry which turns sour foods into sweet, the nearest I can get to magical food in this muggle world.

"It's two dinners only. I do themes all the time. Elvis night is coming up in January, for instance."

The entrepreneur, who has now changed the name of the event to Generic Wizard night, also commented on her blog that Harry Potter author JK Rowling 'who having at one time been a struggling single parent, would probably approve of a single mother being entrepreneurial and creative.'