Judge dismisses 'Harry Potter' lawsuit

NEW YORK, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- A judge has dismissed a copyright-infringement lawsuit brought by the estate of author Adrian Jacobs against the U.S. publishers of the "Harry Potter" novels.

Jacobs, who died in 1997, wrote the book "Willy the Wizard."

U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin in Manhattan dismissed the lawsuit Thursday, declaring, "The contrast between the total concept and feel of the works is so stark that any serious comparison of the two strains credulity."

"Scholastic is extremely pleased that Judge Scheindlin decided to dismiss, at the earliest stage possible, the lawsuit brought against Scholastic by the estate of Adrian Jacobs. The court's swift dismissal supports our position that the case was completely without merit and that comparing 'Willy the Wizard' to the 'Harry Potter' series was absurd," Kyle Good, vice president of corporate communications at Scholastic, said in a statement.

"Scholastic will continue to vigorously defend any such frivolous claims challenging the originality of Harry Potter and the brilliant imagination of its author, J.K. Rowling."