Jacobs estate to "pursue" Potter lawsuit

The estate of deceased author Adrian Jacobs has confirmed that it will "vigorously pursue" its plagiarism case against Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.

The lawsuit claims that Rowling's fourth novel in the magical series, The Goblet of Fire, is "substantially similar" to Jacobs's 1987 book The Adventures of Willy The Wizard.

The late writer's estate also confirmed that lawyers are now "analysing" last week's decision to dismiss the case in America - brought against Rowling and her US publisher Scholastic - with the "view to lodging an appeal".

"This US decision has no legal bearing upon the estate's established action in the High Court of England against J.K.Rowling personally and her publishers Bloomsbury over breach of copyright in Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire," Trustee Paul Allen said in a statement. "That case is scheduled for a 10-day trial in February 2012, when the estate hopes that evidence and cross examination will be heard in open court for the first time."

It added that evidence brought by the estate will include, "forensic linguistic analysis, factual testimony relating to Rowling and her agent Chris Little, and evidence from experts in children's fantasy literature demonstrating startling similarities between the two books."

Last October, a British judge declined to dismiss the case, but added that it was "improbable" that the allegations against Rowling and her UK publisher Bloomsbury would succeed.