Knockoff Wizard Recalled

By Stephen M. Silverman

07/14/1998 at 12:00 AM EDT

Harry Potter imposters, beware. A Manhattan federal judge issued a temporary restraining order yesterday that bars Disguise, Inc., a San Diego, Calif.-based costume manufacturer, from selling a Halloween costume called the "Crimson Wizard." This wizard appears to be based on J.K. Rowling's character, Harry Potter. Disguise, Inc., has also been ordered to recall every costume that has already been shipped, reports The New York Times. Promotional materials for the costume on the company's Web site depict a boy wearing black-framed glasses and a yellow and maroon striped jersey, said to be a reasonable facsimile of Harry on the cover of his first book, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," according to legal papers. Time Warner Entertainment Company, which owns all licensing rights to Harry Potter, has also reportedly sued Disguise, Inc., charging infringement. (Time Warner also owns PEOPLE.) A lawyer for Disguise had no comment.