J.D. Salinger, R.I.P.

J.D. Salinger, the celebrated (and reclusive) author of The Catcher in the Rye, passed away yesterday. He was 91.
Salinger died of natural causes at his home in Cornish, New Hampshire, according to a statement from Salinger’s literary representative.
Is there a legal angle here?


Salinger was the plaintiff in Salinger v. Colting, in which he brought copyright infringement claims against Fredrik Colting, the author of 60 Years Later: Coming Through the Rye — a sequel of sorts to Catcher in the Rye, featuring a 76-year-old version of Catcher protagonist Holden Caulfield.
Salinger prevailed in the trial court before Judge Deborah Batts (S.D.N.Y.), who enjoined publication of 60 Years Later in the United States. But then Colting, supported by a number of leading news organizations as amici, appealed to the Second Circuit.
The court heard argument last September, but has not yet issued a ruling, according to PACER. Presumably the J.D. Salinger Literary Trust, which was represented in the case by Salinger himself (as trustee), will continue the litigation after his death.
J.D. Salinger, author of ‘Catcher in the Rye,’ dies at age 91 [Associated Press via Newser]
Second Circuit Judge: Catcher-based Book “Rather Dismal Piece of Work” [Am Law Daily]
Salinger v. Colting [U.S. District Court (S.D.N.Y.) via Scribd]

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