Several major media organizations in the U.S., as well as the American Library Association, have united to appeal a judge's decision to ban a book described as a sequel to J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye.

The New York Times and The Associated Press have joined with free speech groups to fight the July ruling by a U.S. District Court judge to ban 60 Years Later: Coming Through the Rye by Swedish author Fredrik Colting from publication in the United States.

The judge ruled that the book — published under the pseudonym John David California — would cause "irreparable harm" to Salinger because it had "taken more from Catcher, in both substance and style, than is necessary for the alleged transformative purpose of criticizing Salinger and his attitudes and behaviour."

A brief filed by the coalition of media, library and free speech groups said the District Court decision had "committed serious errors with a profound impact on free speech rights."

The groups contend that even if 60 Years Later was infringing on Salinger's reputation, it is still "an expressive and creative work" and that its availability to the public "must be a critical factor in the... analysis."

In Colting's book, a 76-year-old named Mr. C wanders the streets of New York City after running away from his nursing home. Salinger also makes an appearance as a character trying to work out what to do with Holden Caulfield, the main character in The Catcher in the Rye.

Salinger's 1951 book has been required reading for successive generations of youth and chronicles the adventures of Caulfield after he leaves his school.

Colting's lawyers argue the Swedish writer has been stripped of his rights to fair comment.

A decision on Colting's appeal is expected in September.