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Fifty Shades of Grey spin-offs criticised

Paris - Copy us at your own risk. This is the message sent by the French publisher of Fifty Shades of Grey, which is cracking the whip at spin-offs of the erotic romance.

The French publisher Lattes, has trademarked the title of the book, which has sold a quarter of a million copies in France since it hit shelves a month ago. Lattes told AFP it has sent warning letters to two publishers it accuses of infringement.

One of them, Les Editions First, has released Decoding Fifty Shades of Grey by Ana de Lis and is planning to release Fifty Shades of Grey Cookbook in January.

The second, Contre-dires, published a French translation of 50 Ways to Play: BDSM for Nice People, billed as a practical guide to bondage, dominance, sadism and masochism by Debra and Don Macleod.

Lattes has warned it may take further action depending on the response it gets from the publishers' lawyers.

'We will be very vigilant'

Other spin-offs released in France include a translation of Fifty Shades of Pleasure: A Bedside Companion by Marisa Bennett, published by Larousse, with at least three more titles planned in France for 2013.

"Some of these titles, which pick up on elements of the book, are clearly parasitical," said Laurent Laffont, editorial director at Lattes, which trademarked the title at the request of the agent of British author EL James.

"We would like those planning new releases next year to know that we are watching very closely to ensure they are not parasitical. We will be very vigilant," he warned.

Spiced up with sado-masochism, the 2011 novel is the first part of a trilogy about a relationship between a college graduate and a young business magnate. It has sold some 40 million copies worldwide.

A film based on the book is being planned, with the lead roles still being casted at this time.

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