Ouch!

A British judge has just rejected the claim that the author of "The Da Vinci Code" stole the idea for his book from “Holy Blood Holy Grail” (HBHG):

It would be quite wrong if fictional writers were to have their writings pored over in the way DVC (Da Vinci Code) has been pored over in this case by authors of pretend historical books to make an allegation of infringement of copyright

Pretend historical books? That’s got to hurt. Still, it’s good to see the Judge wasn’t fooled by the Priory-de-Sion hoax that apparently fooled the authors of HBHG. (Or, at least, the hoax they wrote about as though they believed it.)

In my view the lawsuit had to be a publicity stunt. After all, the DVC was nothing but good publicity for HBHG, the sales of which apparently soared on interest from DVC believers. And they’re still cashing in: Michael Baigent – one of the authors of HBHG - has a new book out called “The Jesus Papers”. And from what I can discern from this interview this book just a re-hash the crucifixion portions of HBHG anyway. And it’s not the first time they’ve pulled this one: in 1986 the authors of HBHG published “The Messianic Legacy” – another book that as far as I could tell added nothing but padding to what they had already covered in HBHG.

Perhaps Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh and Henry Lincoln should sue themselves for copyright infringement. Hell, they might even win that one.

Comments

[Skeptyk]

When I finally listened to DVC audiobook, my main reactions were:

*These characters are sooo annoying

*I really want to spend awhile wandering these gorgeous buildings

*This stuff is very familiar, where are the big surprises everyone is wowed with, where are the revelations the HRC Church is mad about? I read all this silliness years ago, and saw it exposed as silliness years ago...now where is that book?...oh, yeah, with my Arthurian collection...yep, "Holy Blood, Holy Grail"

[pvandck]

Holy Grail? The one of Monty Python fame?
This whole DVC, Holy bloody Grail, copyright infringement bollocks has to be one of the biggest time wasters ever. All the writers are stinking rich charlatans thanks to the generosity of the terminally gullible (the kind of people who think Harry Potter is a real person). Even Monty Python would have trouble doing justice to it. :)

[ohwilleke]

You left out the biggest ouch. Losing parties in civil cases in Britain have to pay the winner's attorneys fees. In this case, that bill is $3.5 million.

[Big Al]

I read "HBHG" when it came out, and each assertion struck me one of two ways: "So what?" or "so you say - prove it!" The whole thing was a house of cards perched on a tray supported by a vertical cocktail stick IMO.

I haven't bothered with "DVC". I read "Digital Fortress" by Dan Brown, and a more poorly researched, badly characterised, cliched excuse for a techno-thriller I've yet to encounter.

My first thought on hearing the hype for "DVC" was "Oh, it's a rehash of HBHG". I must admit, I thought Baigent and Lee might have had a chance.