A US judge has ruled that the rights to ten works by John Steinbeck belong to his relatives. “The rights properly belong to the author’s son, Thomas Steinbeck, and granddaughter Blake Smyle. The ruling came after the two canceled rights previously held by various individuals and organizations, including publishing house Penguin Group (USA) Inc. and the heirs of John Steinbeck’s widow, Elaine, who died in April 2003.”