SHORT TAKES : Plea Naming MacLaine Refused

The Supreme Court refused to give new life to a copyright lawsuit over actress Shirley MacLaine’s 1983 best-selling book, “Out on a Limb.”

The court, without comment Monday, let stand rulings that MacLaine’s book about reincarnation and other spiritual subjects did not infringe the copyright of a 1977 book written by Charles Silva. Silva’s suit sought monetary damages from MacLaine and the American Broadcasting Companies Inc., which in 1987 made a television movie based on the book. Silva, from Peru, authored “Date With the Gods” in 1977 and sent a copy to MacLaine. She later discussed it with him and eventually traveled with him to areas of Peru described in his book.