Authors face Da Vinci cash demand Two authors who lost a copyright battle against best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code have been ordered to disclose their financial details to the court.
Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh, who sued publishers Random House, were ordered to pay 85% of the company's legal bill, estimated at £1.3m.
Their first instalment of £350,000 had been due on Friday.
But they have applied for more time to pay. Mr Justice Peter Smith adjourned the application until next week.
The pair also face a large bill from their own lawyers.
Guy Tritton, representing the authors at the High Court in London, told the judge Random House was "unfairly" withholding royalties owed to the pair from their book.
But Mr Justice Smith ordered Mr Baigent and Mr Leigh to provide details of their income, assets and liabilities.
He said they "want money to spend without making any attempt to pay off their liabilities".
I'd need about 70 more years to pay!
This post was last edited by BriS, 06 May 2006, 12:43