Code Red for DA VINCI

By: News Editor
Date: Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Source: Associated Press

AP reports Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh, authors of the 1982 nonfiction book The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, are suing publisher Random House over the allegation that parts of their work formed the basis of Dan Brown's THE DA VINCI CODE.

If the writers succeed in securing an injunction to bar the use of their material, they could hold up the release of THE DA VINCI CODE, starring Tom Hanks and directed by Ron Howard.

Baigent and Leigh's lawyer claims Brown, was "interested in taking, and took, short cuts rather than doing any of the work himself."

Baigent and Leigh are suing Random House, which also published their book. The company denies the claim and a Random House says they believe the lawsuit was without merit.

"Both books hinge on the theory that Jesus married Mary Magdalene and they had a child, and that blood line survives to this day. The earlier book set out the notion that Christ did not die on the cross but lived later in France," notes AP.