There is an interesting discussion on fair use re derivative Harry Potter stuff here:
My kids were watching a derivative Pooh work produced by Disney, who own the non-book copyright to A.A. Milne’s characters. Pooh had to run from angry bees and Tigger or Rabbit asked him which was more important, his life or the honey and Pooh stops to think.
This is a direct take of a classic Jack Benny line from the 1950 Christmas Special:
Thug: Look, bud, I said ‘Your money or your life.’
Jack Benny: I’m thinking it over.
Fair use? Copyright infringement? Derivative work?
