Authors fail in Da Vinci Code 'copy' appeal

American author Dan Brown did not copy large parts of an earlier book to produce his blockbuster novel, The Da Vinci Code, the Court of Appeal ruled today.

Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh, two of the three authors of The Holy Blood And The Holy Grail, who pursued publisher Random House through the High Court to the Court of Appeal, now face a total legal costs bill approaching €4.4m.