Dan Brown Wins 'Da Vinci Code' Court Case

(andPOP) - Dan Brown, author of the popular book The Da Vinci Code, did not copy someone else's work, according to a British court.

The court ruled Friday that Brown was cleared of copyright infridgement. His publishing house, Random House, was also cleared in a case that the judge said was based on "selective" facts and ideas that were "artificially taken out ? for the purpose of the litigation."

"The plaintiffs? case has failed," said High Court justice Peter Smith.

Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh claimed Brown's novel was far too similar to their 1982 book, The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail. Both novels included theories about Jesus that have not been recognized by historians.

"I'm still astonished that these two authors chose to file their suit at all," Brown said in a statement following the ruling. "Today's verdict shows that this claim was utterly without merit."

Leigh and Baigent may be on the hook for $1.75 million in legal fees, reports the AP.

Now that Brown has the much-reported lawsuit behind him, he can get back to his life. First step: an iron fence.

Brown wants to fence in his New Hampshire house to keep away the public who like to take a peek.

His lawyer said the attention he received from the court case scared Brown, as he fears that he will be receiving more unwanted visitors and perhaps even paparazzi, who surrounded the court building each day of the trial.

The Da Vinci Code has sold more than 40 million copies since its release in 2003. Last week, it was released in paperback, and has already moved 500,000 copies. A movie based on the book, starring Tom Hanks, is set for release in May.

Had the case dragged on further ? past the May 19 opening date of the film ? the release date may have been pushed back.