Warner Bros has successfully fended off a major copyright lawsuit related to Superman, just months before the release of its highly anticipated new movie starring David Corenswet.

 

On Thursday, a US federal judge ruled in favour of Warner Bros, dismissing claims brought by the estate of Joseph Shuster, one of Superman’s original creators. The case, filed in New York, argued that rights to Superman had reverted to Shuster’s estate under British and other foreign laws following the illustrator's death.

 

However, US District Judge Jesse Furman found that the lawsuit was based explicitly on non-US legal grounds, meaning the US court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case. As a result, the judge ordered the dismissal, offering Warner Bros a legal win just ahead of the planned July release of its new "Superman" film directed by James Gunn.

 

The Shuster estate had originally claimed that Warner Bros and its subsidiary, DC Comics, owed royalties for using Superman in countries like the UK, Canada, Australia, India, Israel, and Ireland — all of which have laws allowing for copyright reversion after a creator’s death.

 

Warner Bros maintained throughout the dispute that DC Comics rightfully controls all rights to Superman. A company spokesperson expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, reinforcing their position.

 

Despite the setback, the Shuster estate has now refiled its case in New York state court, aiming to continue their pursuit through different legal channels.

 

The newly directed Superman movie is poised to reignite excitement among fans when it hits theatres this July, now with one less legal complication hanging over its release.

 

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