U. S. District Court Rules that Da Vinci Code Does Not Infringe on Copyrights

A U. S. District Court Judge has ruled that Dan Brown's work The Da Vinci Code does not infringe on two of Lewis Perdue's books, Daughter of God and The Da Vinci Legacy. After recounting the plots of the works, the court examined other elements of the books, including characters, thematic expression, structure, and "total concept and feel." The court concluded that "[a] reasonable average lay observer would not conclude that The Da Vinci Code is substantially similar to Daughter of God. Any slightly similar elements are on the level of generalized or otherwise unprotectible ideas." The court found for the plaintiffs, Brown and Random House. Read the decision here.