The Telegraph reports that J.K. Rowling is testifying today in New York against a fan named Steve Vander Ark over his book The Harry Potter Lexicon.

The unofficial reference book, based on the author's fan site (which she's on record as loving), was scheduled to be published by RDR Books, a little publisher whose catalog includes As Good As New: A Consumer's Guide to Dental Implants.

On its website, RDR explains its fair-use defense. An excerpt: "J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. are asserting a startling claim," said Anthony Falzone, executive director of the Fair Use Project and counsel on the case. "The right to create literary reference guides like the Lexicon has remained nearly unquestioned for hundreds of years. The Lexicon is a valuable resource that helps people better understand and enjoy the Harry Potter books. It's exactly what copyright law should encourage, not suppress."

The Guardian reports that at a Harry Potter reading Friday night, J.K. Rowling was asked, "Did Dumbledore, who believed in the prevailing power of love, ever fall in love himself?"

Rowling's response: "My truthful answer to you...I always thought of Dumbledore as gay."

We just finished Book Seven of Harry Potter (in spite of you lousy spoilers) and then turned on the Daily Show to learn Cheney once sought a silver deathbox (horcrux or hallows?). The Economist reports:

This is nothing short of a ridiculous title. Ben insisted on it (I don't know about "insisted"). But we do answer this question and other burning questions about the new book, including whether "horcruxes" are actually hors or not.

Whatever you do, please don't take this so seriously. Thanks.

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Bloggers claiming to have gotten their grubby, stupid, didn't- get -enough- love- as- a- child hands on Book 7 (perhaps via the shadowy warehouse worker in this photo?) are posting spoilers all over the internet. Why hate such people? No one forces us to listen to them, right?

Wrong.

As we all know from the first six books, right after the stroke of midnight on the release date, everyone, everywhere begins loudly talking about who dies and how. The only way to avoid spoilers is to immediately avoid all socializing and all media from now until you've finished the book. Begin lock-down.