'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' Author Files Trademark Lawsuit Against 'Zombie Kid' Publisher

The Wimpy Kid is taking on the Zombie Kid in court.

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Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney and his company, Wimpy Kid Inc., on Tuesday filed a trademark lawsuit in U.S. District Court against Antarctic Press, publisher of a series of books titles Diary of a Zombie Kid, the Boston Herald reported.

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Kinney alleges that Antarctic broke the law by publishing its Zombie Kid books, which he claims too closely resemble his Wimpy Kid series. He also claims the main character is very similar to Wimpy Kid's central character, Greg Heffley.

The books “are obviously intended to confuse the public into believing that the Defendant’s books are additions to such series,” the lawsuit states.

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Antarctic publisher Joe Dunn told the Herald that he was aware of the lawsuit but could not talk about it. Dunn’s lawyer, William Maguire, said they “will be answering the complaint promptly.”

The Wimpy Kid series centers on Greg Heffley, who journals about his life in middle school, his social interactions and his dysfunctional family.

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Kinney has written six books that have sold a total of more than 52 million copies, court documents state. The series also has spawned two movies, 2010's Diary of a Wimpy Kid and 2011's Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, starring Zachary Gordon in the title role.

A third film, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, is set to be released in August.