To Kill a Mockingbird author Harper Lee is suing a museum in her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama to stop it from selling souvenirs with her name and the title of her Pulitzer Prize-winning book.

The lawsuit, filed last week in US federal court in Mobile, says the Monroe County Heritage Museum has traded on Lee's fame without her approval and without compensating her. It seeks an unspecified amount in damages.

Museum lawyer Matt Goforth says the non-profit making museum honours Lee's legacy and that she had never sought money from the museum in its 25 years of existence.

The suit comes after Lee sought a federal trademark for the title of her book when it is used on clothing. The museum opposed her application, saying its souvenir sales are vital to its continued operation.

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