Nothing Wrong With Fakes?

Persian translation of fake “Harry Potter” hits Iran’s bookstores

TEHRAN, Aug. 15 (MNA) -- A Persian translation of the internet counterfeit version of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” has appeared in Iran’s bookstores.

An internet hacker put a fake version of the latest book in the Harry Potter series on the internet a few days before the book’s worldwide release, claiming it to be the original.

Sakineh (Mehri) Kharrazi translated it into Persian off the website and it has been published by Neyestan-e Jam Publications in a 560-page book, the Persian service of ISNA reported on Wednesday.

According to the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance’s book and book reading office, the book was published with the ministry’s permission.

At the top corner of the back of the book, the label “internet version” has been printed.

Head of the office, Majid Hamidzadeh, explained that the ministry had not observed any problem in the contents of the book and therefore permission for publication had been issued, saying “The book bears the label ‘internet version’ on its cover, and we are not concerned whether or not its contents are fake.”

From http://www.mehrnews.ir/en/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=535306

I haven't heard of any other book being so hotly translated. And I haven't read any Potters, so no idea what is so hot. My 14 year old niece - who is a bookworm - has been telling me the storyline is excellent but that I would need to start with the first book not to get disoriented. Then, when my 20 year old sister who is not a bookish type, stood in a queue for 6 hrs in Sydney to buy a copy, I thought maybe I am missing something. So at the hoary age of nearly 50, I am off to find a copy of The Philosopher's Stone. I hope I shall not be disappointed.