1. Catcher in the Rye Plagiarism
Case
By: Rachel Garcia, Chris Lauture, Josh
Maulino, Scott Vo

2. Who?
The Catcher in the Rye plagiarism case
involved two authors, JD Salinger and Fredrik
Colting. Colting went by the pseudonym John David
California.

3. What?
Fredrik Colting was
accused of plagiarizing JD
Salinger’s book The Catcher in
the Rye into his “own” work of
60 Years Later: Coming
Through the Rye. Colting had
an almost identical plot and
used the same words and
events that occurred in
Salinger’s book. When Colting
first published his book, Salinger
immediately took notice and
action. Publication of Colting’s
book was then banned. This
lasted through 2010 until an

4. When?
The first publication and trial of the plagiarism
case lasted from 2009-2011. During this time
Salinger had passed away. The court ruling of
blocking publication of 60 Years Later: Coming
Through the Rye took place 6 months before
Salinger’s passing.

5. How?
Fredrik Colting first published 60 Years Later:
Coming Through the Rye while using the
pseudonym John David California. Colting did this
without the approval or knowing of Salinger.

6. Where?
60 Years Later: Coming Through the Rye was
first published in the United Kingdom. The trial took
place in the United States.

7. Agreement & Restrictions
An agreement was finally
reached, but it included many
restrictions that Colting was
forced to follow. 60 Years Later:
Coming Through the Rye was
prohibited to be published in the
US or Canada, but could be
published else where. Colting was
not allowed to dedicate the book
to Salinger and he had to change
the name of the book. Colting and
his lawyers were very pleased
with the outcome and had great
hopes for the future.

8. Conclusion
This is an example of plagiarism because
Colting took Salinger’s work and used it as his own
without the acknowledgment of Salinger. He did not
change it enough or bring in a number of new ideas
for it to be looked at as a whole other book.