Harper Lee settles lawsuit to secure copyright

NEW YORK • Harper Lee has settled the lawsuit she filed to secure the copyright to her classic novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird."

A federal judge in New York City approved the order last week dismissing the case against Samuel L. Pinkus, the son-in-law of Lee's former literary agent, and companies he allegedly created. Two other defendants had been dropped from the suit a week earlier.

Gloria C. Phares, the Alabama author's attorney, says the case had ended to Lee's satisfaction. Defense attorney Vincent Carissimi said many people misconstrued the nature of the case and that Lee's royalties were never in danger.

Filed in early May in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, the suit alleged that Pinkus failed to properly protect the copyright after his father-in-law, Eugene Winick, became ill a decade ago.