Christopher Reeve in action as the 1970s film version of Superman.(Photo: AFP file)
SAN FRANCISCO -- Warner Bros. has won another significant victory
in its epic legal struggle over the commercial rights to the Superman
comic franchise.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled
Thursday that the heirs of Superman's co-creator Jerome Siegel must
abide by a 2001 agreement they made with the studio. The ruling
overturns a trial judge's decision in 2008 siding with the Siegel heirs
in their attempts to expand their commercial control.
It's the
second significant victory for the studio in its yearslong battle for
control of Superman. Three months ago, heirs for the other co-creator,
Joseph Shuster, also lost their legal bid to regain a share of
Superman's copyright.
Taken together, Warner Bros. now enjoys complete control of the Superman franchise. It plans to release the movie Man of Steelthis summer.
Associated Press