As a passionate film enthusiast, I’m sharing some exciting news about the legal tussle surrounding Superman‘s upcoming movie, directed by James Gunn. The estate of Jerry Siegel (one of Superman’s creators) and Joseph Schuster, through their executor Mark Warren Peary, have filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of New York against Warner Bros. Discovery and DC Entertainment/DC Comics.
The lawsuit aims to halt the release of this movie in several territories, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia. The estate is seeking monetary damages, court orders to stop further infringement (injunctive relief), and recognition of their ownership rights across various jurisdictions. They argue that Warner Bros. Discovery is using Superman characters without proper authorization.
With the movie’s release imminent, this case seems poised for a court decision, as Warner Bros. Discovery is reportedly planning a significant new Superman film and other derivative works for global distribution. Stay tuned for updates on this intriguing legal battle.
A Warner Bros. Discovery representative stated that they strongly oppose the validity of the lawsuit and intend to fight for their legal rights, as it pertains to the disputed regions: Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia.
The central point of contention involves foreign copyrights for the original Superman character and story, which were collaboratively created by Jerome Siegel (Siegel) and Shuster on speculation. Although Siegel and Shuster transferred worldwide Superman rights to a precursor of DC Comics in 1938 for only $130 ($65 each), copyright laws in countries influenced by British law—such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia—include provisions that terminate such assignments 25 years after an author’s demise, resulting in the Shuster Estate owning Siegel’s entire undivided copyright interest in these nations.
Shuster passed away in 1992 and Siegel followed in 1996. Legally, Shuster’s foreign copyrights were transferred to his estate in most regions by 2017 (and 2021 in Canada). However, the Defendants persistently use Superman across these territories without the permission of the Shuster Estate – this includes movies, TV shows, and merchandise. This action violates the copyright laws of these countries, which demand the agreement of all copyright owners before such exploitation can occur.
Directed by James Gunn, Superman soars into theaters on July 11th.
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2025-01-31 22:12