Superman co-creator’s Estate sues WBD over copyright dispute

The estate of Joseph Shuster, co-creator of Superman, has filed a copyright lawsuit against Warner Bros. Discovery, challenging the studio’s right to use the iconic superhero outside the United States. The legal dispute comes ahead of the much-anticipated release of Superman, a reboot of the DC Comics film franchise directed by James Gunn and set for a July premiere.

The lawsuit, filed in a New York federal court, argues that Shuster’s rights to the character reverted to his estate in 2017 under British copyright law, which grants creators’ estates control over intellectual property 25 years after their death. The estate claims Warner Bros. has failed to compensate for the use of Superman in countries governed by British copyright law, including the UK, Canada, and Australia.

This latest legal battle could pose complications for the international distribution of the upcoming Superman film and other projects featuring the character. Shuster and his co-creator, Jerome Siegel, initially sold their rights to the character to Detective Comics—now DC Comics, a subsidiary of Warner Bros.—in the 1930s. Over the years, multiple lawsuits have been filed by their estates seeking compensation for Superman’s continued use.

A U.S. court previously ruled in 2013 that the creators’ heirs could not reclaim their rights under American copyright law. However, the new lawsuit takes a different legal approach by citing international copyright protections. The estate is seeking financial compensation and a court order restricting Warner Bros. from using the Superman character without proper licensing in applicable territories.

With Superman expected to be a major blockbuster, the lawsuit adds a fresh layer of uncertainty to the film’s global release strategy. Warner Bros. has responded by stating its intention to defend its rights vigorously, setting the stage for another legal battle over one of the world’s most recognizable superheroes.

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