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Possible court action over Dobby-Putin resemblance
Harry Potter character Dobby the house-elf could soon be at the centre of a court battle over his apparent resemblance to Vladimir Putin.
A Russian law firm is reportedly drawing up legal action against the special effects people who dreamt up Dobby as he appears in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
It is arguing the elf has been modelled on the Russian president, the Novaya Gazeta newspaper reports.
The Kremlin and Harry Potter film producers Warner Bros have declined to comment on the matter but the controversy has stirred emotions in Russia.
Harry Potter websites and chatrooms have been inundated with angry Russians posting messages attacking anyone even suggesting a likeness between the elf and Putin.
The threatened legal action is the second controversy in Russia in recent months surrounding the best-selling children's books.
Last year the Russian Orthodox Church called for the books to be banned. It claimed they promoted occultism and witchcraft.
It is also not the first time Russians have been angered about the apparent misuse of the image of their president.
In 1995, the Prosecutor-General's Office launched an investigation into alleged insults against then-President Boris Yeltsin in the popular satirical puppet show "Kukly". The case was later dropped.
but the resemblance is remarkable.
Harry Potter character Dobby the house-elf could soon be at the centre of a court battle over his apparent resemblance to Vladimir Putin.
A Russian law firm is reportedly drawing up legal action against the special effects people who dreamt up Dobby as he appears in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
It is arguing the elf has been modelled on the Russian president, the Novaya Gazeta newspaper reports.
The Kremlin and Harry Potter film producers Warner Bros have declined to comment on the matter but the controversy has stirred emotions in Russia.
Harry Potter websites and chatrooms have been inundated with angry Russians posting messages attacking anyone even suggesting a likeness between the elf and Putin.
The threatened legal action is the second controversy in Russia in recent months surrounding the best-selling children's books.
Last year the Russian Orthodox Church called for the books to be banned. It claimed they promoted occultism and witchcraft.
It is also not the first time Russians have been angered about the apparent misuse of the image of their president.
In 1995, the Prosecutor-General's Office launched an investigation into alleged insults against then-President Boris Yeltsin in the popular satirical puppet show "Kukly". The case was later dropped.
but the resemblance is remarkable.
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