More accusations against Rowling

According to Reuters, J.K. Rowling has joined her editor, Bloomsbury, in refuting accusations she copied elements of the book The Adventures of Willy the Wizard: No. 1 Livid Land, published in 1987.

The author called for a plagiarism case against her to be dismissed today, describing it as "unfounded" and "absurd".

 In June, the estate of Adrian Jacobs issued proceedings at London’s High Court against Bloomsbury Publishing, claiming that Rowling copied substantial parts of Jacobs’ book The Adventures of Willy the Wizard — No 1 Livid Land.

It says that Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire contains elements copied from Willy the Wizard, including a magicians’ contest and the idea of magicians travelling on trains.

Rowling’s name was added to the case as a defendant. The 44-year old author says in a statement, "I am saddened that yet another claim has been made that I have taken material from another source to write Harry."

She goes on to add, "The fact is I had never heard of the author or the book before the first accusation by those connected to the author’s estate in 2004; I have certainly never read the book."

The seven Harry Potter books have broken publishing records. More than 400 million copies have been sold worldwide in several languages and the film franchise has earned billions of dollars.