New York: British author JK Rowling is expected to appear as a witness at a New York trial next month, in a case called to settle an intellectual property dispute involving her Harry Potter books.

Rowling and Warner Bros, the studio behind the movie versions of the books, are suing US publisher RDR Books over an encyclopedia devoted to the boy wizard and other characters from the phenomenally successful series.

A New York Federal District Court Judge yesterday ordered the case to go to trial on April 14. A lawyer for RDR Books said Rowling was expected to appear to give evidence in the case.

"We asked for her and they said they would provide her," said lawyer David Hammer. "I would say it would be very unlikely that she would not appear," he added. The witness list needs to be handed to the judge in the case by April 4.

The lawsuit, filed by Rowling and Warner Bros in November, alleges "widespread misappropriation of Ms Rowling's fictional characters and universe."

Rowling is seeking unspecified damages against RDR Books, which describes its Harry Potter Lexicon as "the most trusted reference source on Earth about the wonderful world of Harry Potter."

An injunction is currently preventing the publishers from proceeding with sales or even marketing the book.

Rowling said last year the book threatens a similar reference guide she is planning to release.

"I cannot, therefore, approve of companion books or encyclopedias that seek to preempt my definitive Potter reference book for their authors own personal gain," she said in a statement.

Source : PTI