JD Salinger sues over 'Catcher in the Rye' sequel

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JD Salinger yesterday sued the writer and publisher of a book billed as a sequel to his classic novel "The Catcher in the Rye," saying the work infringes on his copyright.

Salinger is asking a judge to block publication of "60 Years Later: Coming Through the Rye" written by an author identified as J.D. California.

According to online bookstore Amazon.com, the book will be published in September by Swedish publisher Nicotext.

"The sequel is not a parody and it does not comment upon or criticize the original. It is a rip-off pure and simple," said the lawsuit, filed in US District Court in Manhattan.

A representative from Nicotext could not immediately be reached for comment.

Salinger holds a copyright to the 1951 novel, considered one of the great works of American literature, and its main character, Holden Caulfield.

The lawsuit describes Salinger as "fiercely protective of his intellectual property" and says he "would not approve of defendants' use of his intellectual property."