Warner Bros. Goes After Harry Popper Condom Maker

Warner Bros. is suing the company, Magic X, for copyright infringement. Magic X is the Swiss manufacturer of the Harry Popper condoms. Their packaging shows an image of a bespectacled condom waving a wand.

The studio is trying to ban the company from using the name and stop the manufacturing of the condom. A rep from Warner Bros. said, “The image of my client is in danger. This is clearly a reference to the film and fictional Harry Potter. Everyone who sees the condoms automatically thinks of Harry Potter.” The image closely resembles the much-loved character Harry Potter. The boy wizard is the lead character of the series written by British author J. K. Rowling. The novels have been adapted in the big screen and now considered as the most successful movie series of all time with over $5.4 billion at the worldwide box office. The franchise is estimated to be worth more than $25 billion. English actor Daniel Radcliffe plays the character on the film franchise. Part I of the seventh installment of the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will hit theaters later this fall, while the second half is slated to be released July next year.

But a lawyer of the condom manufacturer disputed such claims by the studio behind the Harry Potter series and said, “Our product has nothing to do with Harry Potter.” The product was launched back in 2006 and the name is registered with the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property. It proved to be a huge hit. Warner Bros. has successfully stopped the manufacturing the Harry Popper condoms in some countries like Austria and Germany. The Cantonal Court in Schwyz, Switzerland is expected to give its ruling on the plight of the brand in the next few weeks.

The fantasy adventure movie will be shown on November 19, 2010. You can also watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows online.