Thursday May 8, 01:56 AM

Rowling wins privacy case over photo of son

LONDON (Reuters) - Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has won her battle to ban further publication of a long-lens photograph of her son, in a privacy case her legal team called a major development in British law.

The initial claim by Rowling and her husband was thrown out by a London court last year, prompting the couple to appeal.

In a written judgment on Wednesday, a panel of judges upheld the appeal, a ruling which Rowling and husband Neil Murray welcomed.

"We understand and accept that with the success of Harry Potter there will be a measure of legitimate media and public interest in Jo's (Rowling's) professional activities and appearances," the couple said in a statement.

"However, we have striven to give our children a normal family life outside the media spotlight.

"We are immensely grateful to the court for giving our children protection from covert, unauthorised photography; this ruling will make an immediate and material difference to their lives."

Anthony Clarke, one of the judges hearing the appeal, said the child of a famous parent should have the same rights as that of "ordinary" parents.

"If a child of parents who are not in the public eye could reasonably expect not to have photographs