Jill — who helpfully stepped up to the plate yesterday with a rousing post on author branding and STDs — noted that we allowed a bit of wiggle room on the Dan Brown issue when we last mentioned the court case (also, anytime we can use the word penultimate in a post, we’re happy). Thus we can bring you today’s happy news without breaking any vows of silence.
The verdict is in. Brown and Random House — already celebrating because both the trade paperback and mass market paperback versions of The Da Vinci Code debuted at number one this week, a nearly impossible feat considering that everyone in world surely already owns this book — have been vindicated. As expected. Brown says, in a statement issued by Random House,
“Today’s verdict shows that this claim was utterly without merit. I’m still astonished that these two authors chose to file their suit at all. A novelist must be free to draw appropriately from historical works without fear that he’ll be sued and forced to stand in a courtroom facing allegations that call into question his very integrity as a person.”
Amen, brother! And we end our wall-to-wall coverage of this issue relieved.
Technorati Tags: Jill Monroe, Dan Brown, Da Vinci Code, Random House
7 responses so far ↓
SusanGable // Apr 7, 2006 at 11:08 am
Ha! My “verdict” offered back when the suit was first filed, is vindicated. Gee, court costs would have been much lower if I’d precided over this one. (G) I’d have dismissed it immediately.
Glad to see that good sense won out.
Oh, and I don’t own a copy of this book yet, haven’t read it, don’t intend to buy it OR read it. (shrug) Who IS buying these copies now? Very curious.
Diana Peterfreund // Apr 7, 2006 at 11:32 am
Hallelujah, Amen and Go Fiction Writers Everywhere…
Now, about shopping the proposal I’ve been sitting on since hearing about this crap…
David Thayer // Apr 7, 2006 at 2:28 pm
Soon to be a Rumpole episode.
Booksquare // Apr 7, 2006 at 2:32 pm
Sorry, Susan, had I know, I would have challenged the judge and put you up in his place. But then the farce wouldn’t have played out and I would have had to come up with other topics to write about. And it really is all about me.
Go forth with proposal, Diana. Just make sure you really disguise the spelling of Baigent and Leight (g).
David, I misread your comment at first. Romper Room. Shows where my mind is…
Camilla // Apr 8, 2006 at 12:36 am
I second Susan. I still haven’t read the book and have no inclination to in the nearby future AND I wonder who the heck is buying TDC in both MM and TPB? It’s creepy…
Kirsten // Apr 8, 2006 at 5:30 am
a nearly impossible feat considering that everyone in world surely already owns this book
LOL
David Thayer // Apr 8, 2006 at 6:15 am
I don’t think the kids on Romper Room wore wigs and black robes. But Captain Kamgaroo had a kangaroo court.