Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's estate sues Hollywood over Mr. Holmes

The estate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is suing Hollywood over a movie in which Sir Ian McKellen plays the fictional detective in retirement.

Lawyers for the estate argue that the film Mr. Holmes infringes on stories written by Conan Doyle that remain under copyright.

The estate is suing the Miramax studio, film distributor Roadside Attractions, and director Bill Condon, who previously directed Chicago and Dreamgirls.

It is also suing the author and publishers of the book A Slight Trick of the Mind, on which the film is based, and demanding damages and a share of profits from both the film and book.

Last year the US Supreme Court upheld lower court rulings that only the last 10 of Conan Doyle's 60 stories remained in copyright.

They were published between 1923 and 1927 and are therefore still subject to America's 95-year copyright laws.

However, the estate claims there are similarities between Mr. Holmes and The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier, one of the 10 stories still under copyright.

The estate, also suggests that the details of Holmes' retirement are developed from elements of the final 10 stories.

In its claim the estate said: "Those stories are among the most original and creative works of modern fiction, and they should not be ripped off just because older Conan Doyle stories are in the public domain."