Authors are suing ‘Code’ publisher

Two authors are taking Dan Brown’s publisher to court in London over claims that his bestselling book “The Da Vinci Code” features stolen ideas.

Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh are suing publisher Random House, claiming that Brown’s “The Da Vinci Code” lifts ideas from their 1982 nonfiction book, “The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail.” Their work explores theories that Jesus and Mary Magdalene married and had a child and that their bloodline continues to the present day.

A similar theme is explored in Brown’s novel, which has sold some 25 million copies around the world and is being made into a movie starring Tom Hanks.

The trial is scheduled to start Feb. 27 in London’s High Court.

From Associated Press