Harry Popper Condoms

Not sure if any of you Harry Potter fans have received the latest edition of the Muggle News but Harry Potter is in the midst of yet another lawsuit. No, J.D. Rowling is not being sued by anybody for stealing the boy wizard concept nor is Professor Snape being sued for defamation of character. In fact, at the center of the lawsuit is an innocent piece of latex named Harry Popper. You heard me right…Harry Popper. You see, Harry Popper is not Harry Potter’s evil twin, but rather an image on a Swiss-manufactured condom.

Since the inception of Harry Potter, merchandise for the lucrative franchise has sprung up everywhere you look. I will admit to having bought a package or two of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans and forcing my best friend to knit me a Gryffindor-inspired maroon and gold scarf; however, Warner Brothers movie executives had no hand in the Swiss company’s (named Magic X), decision to manufacture those wizard-inspired condoms that featured an image of a condom sporting round glasses and a magic wand. Because of this, Warner Brothers is taking swift legal action against the company in what seems to be an obvious interpretation and misrepresentation of the boy wizard. Executives recently filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Magic X so that the company could not release these condoms before the next Harry Potter movie (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I) premieres on November 10th this year.

A Warner Brothers lawyer involved in the case told the Swiss newspaper Bote that “The image of my client is in danger. This is clearly a reference to the film and fictional character Harry Potter. Everyone who sees the condoms automatically thinks of Harry Potter” I doubt anybody would like to have their image being ripped open and throw across the room in a fit of passion. Attorneys for the Swiss company, on the other hand, have stated, “Our product has nothing to do with Harry Potter.” Must be a simple coincidence, eh? I mean, really, the name on the condom packaging is an entire TWO letters difference than Harry Potter’s name and the condom doesn’t even have a lightning-shaped scar on its forehead! On top of that, it is quite obvious that the condom is in the midst of performing an Avada Kedavra, or Killing Curse, spell and there is no way Harry Potter would be caught smiling (like that condom) while performing a curse like that. The Swiss lawyers have this case in the bag. Within the next few weeks, the Cantonal Court in Schwyz will determine whether or not they will place a ban on the condom’s wizard-inspired packaging.