You good folks might have heard a mention here or there about “some Superman lawsuit.” But after the news just now coming out, I’m pretty sure you’ll know more about it.
According to The New York Times:
“A federal judge here on Wednesday ruled that the heirs of Jerome Siegel — who 70 years ago sold the rights to the action hero he created with Joseph Shuster to Detective Comics for $130 — were entitled to reclaim their share of the U.S. copyright to the character.”
Apparently, the international rights to Superman remain the property of Time Warner.
There’s also the chance that if this decision sticks it will open a can of worms with the heirs of ‘Supes’ co-creator Joseph “Joe” Shuster in 2013.
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And it’s also become a question-mark as to whether or not the Siegels are owed any profits for film ventures like 2006’s Superman Returns or its currently-in-development sequel Superman: The Man of Steel for 2010; not to mention, the increasingly looking-like-its-not-going-to-happen-anyway Justice League Mortal!
Personally, I don’t see this delaying any of them directly; no more than any other factors which would delay said film projects.
This thing will continue to be dragged out in the courts for years.
Time Warner (via their legal muscle) will probably get this decision over-turned. At least, that’s what I see happening.
Source: The New York Times
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8 Comments
I wasn’t aware this whole ownership thing was still an issue. I thought it had already been settled to the satisfaction of all parties a few years back.
Vic
Just goes to show, the greedy get geedier with each passing year.
MOS is now dead. He’ll be taken out of the JLA film too. They killed off Superboy when the heirs got rights to that. Now they’ll kill off Superman too.
MOS is NOT dead. You realize this lawsuit has been around for Y-E-A-R-S. With the kind of legal team they have, Time Warner will drag this out for God knows how long.
I’m telling ya; they’ll get this ruling over-turned no doubt about it. Regardless, WB will still develop the SUPERMAN RETURNS sequel.
I’ve heard absolutely nothing from my contacts suggesting that this will directly effect the production.
Jamie
WOW. I want the fams to have a share, but I still want Superman to continue to be put into merchandise, movies, etc.
Hopefully both parties will be satisfied.
Also, please stop refering to JLA aka Justice League as Justice League: Mortal. That is a complete rumor, and if anything at all is just a codename for the project, much like Red Sun was the codename for Superman Returns, The Dark Knight’s was Rory’s First Kiss, Star Wars was Blue Harvest, etc. The real codename for it in recent news is 7 Friends (sounds like a reality show).
Unless you’ve heard from your contacts since last WEDNESDAY, they wouldn’t have known the effect.
MOS is dead. There is no profit with 50% of gross taken out.
Time Warner is going to drag this out for long time. This ruling will NOT stick.
MOS is NOT dead.
Jamie
I truly hope this puts an end to Singer torturing us with another shite Superman film.
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