BBC News Online: Entertainment

Harry Potter books 'plagiarised'

Nancy Stouffer, of Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, argues in her federal lawsuit that ideas for the Potter series were lifted from a book she wrote in 1984.

British author J K Rowling has become a cult figure in her own right among the novels' readers.

A movie is being made from the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

But Nancy Stouffer says she should get credit for the creation of Harry Potter; she argues that J K Rowling lifted ideas from her 1984 book The Legend of Rah and Muggles, which includes a character called Larry Potter.

Muggles is the word wizards use for humans in the Harry Potter books, but Nancy Stouffer says she coined the term; she says she has a character called Lilly Potter in her novel; there's a Lily Potter in J K Rowling's books.

Trademark - Muggle

In Stouffer's book, 'muggles' are little people who care for two orphaned boys who magically turn their dark homeland into a happy place.

In Rowling's books, 'muggles' is the word wizards use for humans.

No settlement

Ms Stouffer filed the lawsuit in the US District Court against Rowling and Scholastic Inc., the US publisher of the Harry Potter books.

Her lawsuit also names Time Warner Entertainment Co., which owns the film rights to two of Rowling's Potter books, and Mattel and Hasbro, which have the merchandising licences.

That suit was filed after attempts by the US writer to negotiate an out-of-court settlement.

Ms Stouffer's claims are "completely meritless," said Judy Corman, a spokeswoman for Scholastic.

"Unfortunately, success often leads to frivolous claims, and we're confident the court will find in our favour."

J K Rowling plans to write a total of seven books about her hero, ending the series when he leaves school at the age of 17.