No Damages Sought For Unauthorized Potter Translation

PARIS — The French publishers of the Harry Potter books said yesterday that they are not seeking damages from a 16-year-old who allegedly posted an unauthorized translation of the final book in the series online. The boy spent a night in jail last week in the southern city of Aix-en-Provence and was questioned by prosecutors before being released. The case is under preliminary investigation by the French judicial police, and it is up to investigators to decide whether to try to bring the case to trial.

Publishing house Gallimard Jeunesse, which is releasing the official French translation of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" October 26, will not seek damages or file suit against the boy, spokeswoman Marie Leroy-Lena said.

Since the boy told prosecutors he was not looking for monetary gain and that he worked alone on the translation and not as part of a criminal network, Gallimard sees no reason for him to be prosecuted, she said. The unofficial French translation appeared online within days of the July 21 release of the 759-page book.