Brought to book: when publishers go to court | Books | The Guardian

Howard Hughes v McGraw-Hill (1972) McGraw-Hill believed they'd pulled off a coup by acquiring the "autobiography" of reclusive tycoon Howard Hughes, based on interviews with Clifford Irving. But Hughes angrily telephoned reporters and sued the publisher, saying he'd had no dealings with Irving, who was swiftly exposed as a hoaxer. (McGraw-Hill cheques totalling $650,000 had gone to an "HR Hughes" who turned out to be Helga Hughes, an alias used by Irving's wife.) Publisher loss