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British Judge Decides Copyright Case in Favor of Da Vinci Code
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=11B198F:3919ACA Two authors filed
the suit against Random House, claiming The Da Vinci Code stole the
central theme of their 1982 book, The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail





Copies of 'The Da Vinci Code' by Dan Brown and 'The Holy Blood and the
Holy Grail' are held outside London High CourtA British judge has
rejected a copyright infringement suit against the U.S. publisher of
the international best selling murder mystery, The Da Vinci Code by
Dan Brown.

Two authors filed the suit against Random House, claiming The Da Vinci
Code stole the central theme of their 1982 book, The Holy Blood and
the Holy Grail.

The authors' book alleges Jesus Christ married his devoted follower,
Mary Magdalene, and had a child. According to the book the bloodline
continues today in a secret society. "The Da Vinci Code" uses some of
the same ideas, but Brown and Random House denied the novel had
infringed on the earlier book's copyright.

Random House welcomed the court's ruling, saying the case was without
merit and should have never made it to court.

More than 40 million copies of "The Da Vinci Code" have been sold. The
ruling should clear the way for release of a film version of the book
starring U.S. actor, Tom Hanks.


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