The legal dispute aiming to halt the release of James Gunn’s upcoming film in significant regions has become even more intricate. The estate of Superman’s creator, Joseph Schuster, asserts ongoing copyright violation.
According to a report by Matthew Belloni in his Puck Newsletter, attorney Marc Toberoff has apparently re-filed a copyright lawsuit in a New York state court on behalf of the Schuster estate. The new filing includes a petition for an injunction that aims to prevent Warner Bros. from using Superman in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, and Australia. These regions are where it was alleged that Warner Bros. Discovery and DC Comics were violating Schuster’s copyright by exploiting the character.
Additionally, Gardner states that New York Supreme Court has mandated Warner Bros. Discovery to prepare objection documents by May 23rd. A court hearing has been scheduled for June 4th, during which they will argue why an injunction preventing the release of Superman should not be imposed. These legal hurdles seem to pose a risk, particularly if the release is hindered in crucial international markets beyond the U.S.
In January, it emerged that Schuster’s estate filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of New York’s Federal Court, claiming both compensation and an injunction to stop ongoing infringement in the previously mentioned countries. The upcoming film starring Gunn, which includes a new Superman movie and related projects for global release, was highlighted as a key point in these allegations.
In March, Warner Bros. Discovery and DC Comics contested a lawsuit filed by the Schuster estate, stating that it had no merit whatsoever. The argument was made that these claims were previously dismissed by a federal judge. However, despite this ruling, the case appears to be persisting, leading to a quick submission of opposition papers. Consequently, there’s a possibility that the upcoming release of Superman could indeed be at risk.
Original Superman’s Copyright Threatens New Movie
The specifics of the lawsuit filed in January revealed that the central issue was the foreign copyrights for Superman, a character co-created by Schuster and Siegel, along with their story. According to legal arguments, Schuster’s heirs claimed that certain copyright terms had been altered following the author’s demise.
In countries with legal systems similar to Britain, like Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia, copyright laws have a rule that automatically ends any assignments 25 years after an author’s demise. This means that the Shuster Estate inherits the entire copyright interest of the co-author in these nations.
After the deaths of Schuster in 1992 and Siegel in 1996, Schuster’s estate gained ownership of the foreign copyrights by default in certain regions (and in Canada in 2021). The lawsuit, filed due to alleged deliberate, intentional, and purposeful infringement, demanded a jury trial and an order for immediate cessation of any further infringements.
Superman is slated for relase on July 11.
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2025-05-22 17:14