The problem with using generic terms is that the trademark doesn't trump the generic use. As you can have books about anything, and you're free to label your b

The problem with using generic terms is that the trademark doesn't trump the generic use. As you can have books about anything, and you're free to label your book accordingly (ie in a desciptive manner), trademarks on book titles are probably hard to enforce as long as the author is not actively deceptive by choice of artwork, book design etc (ask the trademark lawyer of your choice for a definitive answer). Having a book called 'The Life of Harry Potter' about an actual person with that name should be fine (this is not legal advice ;)). Having a book about a fictuous sorcerer of that name is a problem if you're not associated with JKR. At that point, copyright law might come into play as well.