Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has failed to stop a draft of his ‘warts and all’ autobiography being published.

Assange accused publisher Canongate of publishing the unfinished autobiography without his consent which he claims amounts to breach of contract.

The Scottish based publisher counterclaims that Assange tried to back out of the publishing deal for which he had already been paid a six figure sum, the BBC reports.

In a statement Assange said: "The events surrounding its unauthorised publication by Canongate are not about freedom of information.”

"They are about old-fashioned opportunism and duplicity – screwing people over to make a buck."

Canongate released their own statement saying: "On 7 June 2011, with 38 publishing houses around the world committed to releasing the book, Julian told us he wanted to cancel his contract.”
"However, he had already signed his advance over to his lawyers to settle his legal bills.

"We have decided to honour that contract and to publish. Once the advance has been earned out, we will continue to honour the contract and pay Julian royalties."

The Australian reportedly wanted to pull the book, which recounts his fascination with computer hacking, after becoming concerned that US prosecutors might use the book as evidence against him in potential espionage charges.

Assange is currently fighting a bid to extradite him to Sweden to answer charges of sexual assault.

 

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