While the sequels sound like they're in poor taste, I think the legal 
situation is quite clear.  The work is in the public domain, and other 
authors are free to do as they with it.

It's too bad that someone would, though.

Still, I find the final sentence in the article amusing:
"A lawyer for Hugo's heir said that the decision would open the door to a 
flood of contemporary sequels to other classics such as Flaubert's Madame 
Bovary."

Apparently, this lawyer doesn't understand public domain; classic works 
such as this have *always* been open to modern sequels.

...Ben Chambers
www.pacificwebguy.com

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