As we all know, Hollywood is the epicenter of not only fads, but also ripping off copying what works from other studios. We’ve all seen this before many times. One studio puts out a successful movie in some genre and within 6-9 months we see a bunch of movies coming out trying to capitalize on the popularity of the first one.

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Wow… things have actually been pretty quite here on the “tear Hollywood a new one” front, but this story puts the powers that be right in my sights once again. According to a recent interview with Will Smith, he was offered the iconic role of Superman in Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns before it was offered to Brandon Routh.

Thankfully, Smith had the presence of mind to turn it down.

According to MTV:

“There is no way I’m playing Superman!’ Because I had already done Jim West [of 'Wild Wild West'], and you can’t be messing up white people’s heroes in Hollywood! You mess up white people’s heroes in Hollywood, you’ll never work in this town again!”

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.