Rowling blocks Grotter release

Rowling's lawyers wanted to stop Yemets' work being printed

Harry Potter author JK Rowling has won her court battle to block publication of a Russian children's book after successfully arguing it copied her stories.

Rowling asked an Amsterdam court to stop the international publication of Dmitry Yemets' tale about a girl wizard called Tanya Grotter.

Her lawyers argued that The Magic Double Bass novel copied her bestseller Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

Yemets contended his book was a parody.

Rowling was joined in her action by media giant Time Warner, which has produced the two Harry Potter films.

Amsterdam District Court agreed to block publication of 7,000 copies of Yemets' book by Dutch company Byblos.

"The court orders Byblos to cease and desist from any infringement of Rowling's copyright", including publication of The Magic Double Bass, the judgment said.

The books bore similarities in that both central characters, Potter and Grotter, were orphans with magical powers.

Both must battle evil and Tanya Grotter, like Harry Potter, has a strange mark on her face.

The Harry Potter series, in which there have so far been four books, have become worldwide bestsellers.

The book has sold 500,000 copies in Russia

Merchandising and two movies have helped the franchise earn £1bn.

Tanya Grotter's adventure has become a hit in Russia, where it has sold more than 500,000 copies.

Yemets has signalled his intention to publish eight books in the series in Russia, through Eksmo publishers.

Rowling has also planned to release seven Harry Potter books, one for each year he is at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Yemets and Dutch publishers Byblos have the right to appeal the decision.