J.K. Rowling loses lawsuit

The creator of the Harry Potter series of books, J.K. Rowling has lost a court battle relating to a photo of her son taken in 2004. Rowling sued Express Newspapers and Big Pictures for taking the picture of her, her husband and her son, who, at the time was less than two years old, when it appeared in a Sunday Express story.

The British author filed a lawsuit stating that their privacy right had been violated and sought damages and a publication ban on the photo. The company settled the claim and a judge dismissed the case but granted a temporary ban on publication of the picture. Rowling and her husband say they will appeal.

The judge stated that although he does sympathize with them, the law doesn't allow anybody to carve out a press-free zone for their children concerning absolutely everything they choose to do.

Rowling, who has three children, said "Our aim has only been to protect our children from press intrusion during their childhood. We see no legitimate reason why, as in this case, David, who was less than two years of age at the time, should have his photograph taken and then published in the press. We take his, and that of his siblings, privacy and safety very seriously."

Rowling has become famous for her Harry Potter series. The last book in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was highly anticipated by fans. Deathly Hallows was released last month. The books are also being made into movies.