Score one for Holden Caufield and J.D. Salinger. A federal judge has temporarily blocked the U.S. distribution of an unauthorized sequel to Catcher in the Rye, as she contemplates the complicated issues in the case.

 Judge Deborah Batts is considering whether 60 Years Later: Coming Through the Rye transforms Salinger's original creation enough that it is a "fair use" of a copyrighted work, the AP said. A ruling was anticipated in the next 10 days. The book, by Swedish author Fredrik Colting, was scheduled for U.S. release on Sept. 15 but the court dispute was likely to delay that.

Among the related questions in the case: Is Caufield himself entitled to copyright protection? Does this amount to a book ban? Judges are very reluctant to halt publication of books and newspapers, because that action runs counter to First Amendment guarantees of freedom of expression. In one of the most well-known cases on that issue, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected govenment efforts to halt newspaper publication of the "Pentagon Papers," a critical review of U.S. policy in Viet Nam. But here the issues are murkier, because of the 60 Years Later is so closely linked to a copyrighted work.

One sad note in this mess: Salinger's agent says he is now deaf, and is recovering at a rehabilitation facility from surgery for a broken hip suffered in late May.