Harry Potter lawsuit against Kerem Aktürkoğlu
Turkish Football Player Kerem Aktürkoğlu Sued for Alleged Harry Potter Copyright and Trademark Violations
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., one of Hollywood’s most iconic film studios, has reportedly filed a lawsuit against Fenerbahçe football star Kerem Aktürkoğlu for allegedly using Harry Potter–related visual and audio elements without authorization. According to reports, the case was submitted to the Istanbul Intellectual and Industrial Rights Court, with the company accusing the athlete of violating both copyright and trademark laws.
Unauthorized Use of Harry Potter Elements Alleged
In its court petition, Warner Bros highlighted that globally recognized terms such as “Harry Potter,” “Hogwarts,” and “Gryffindor” are officially registered trademarks in Türkiye. Registration details were presented to the court in tabular form, noting that Aktürkoğlu’s social media posts made clear references to these protected brands.
The company emphasized that these trademarks extend far beyond books and movies—they represent high-value global brands with substantial commercial significance.
Copyright Violations Cited
According to reports in Sabah, Warner Bros claimed that Aktürkoğlu used “Hedwig’s Theme,” the iconic musical score from the Harry Potter film franchise, in his social media content.
The shared videos allegedly contained:
- Animated characters resembling figures from the Harry Potter universe
- The Hogwarts crest and other recognizable symbols
- Decorations inspired by scenes from the films
- Costumes associated with the franchise
Warner Bros argued that all of these elements were used without permission, constituting both copyright infringement and unauthorized use of trademarked material.
Request for Expert Examination of Social Media Accounts
In its petition, Warner Bros stated that the footballer’s posts violate the financial and moral rights of the copyright holder under Turkish Intellectual and Industrial Property Rights Law. The company also asserted that the actions amount to unfair competition under the Turkish Commercial Code.
Warner Bros requested the court to appoint an expert to examine:
- A specific Reel video on Aktürkoğlu’s Instagram account
- Relevant posts shared on X (formerly Twitter)
The expert would be tasked with determining whether copyrighted music, logos, characters, or visuals from the Harry Potter universe were used. Notably, the studio asked that this examination be carried out without notifying the footballer in advance.
