Steinbeck's Son Loses Legal Battle

A appeals court judge has overturned the decision to hand the rights to author JOHN STEINBECK's works to his son and granddaughter.

Thomas Steinbeck and Blake Smyle were previously granted publishing rights to 10 of Steinbeck's early works, including classics The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men, in a ruling in 2006.

But, a federal appeals court has switched power back to publishers Penguin and the estate of Steinbeck's widow Elaine, who died in 2003. In a court hearing on Wednesday (13Aug08), it was ruled that the lower court had misapplied copyright law in the lengthy 2006 battle.

Steinbeck died in 1968 at the age of 62.