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Warner Bros. Wins Dismissal of Superman Copyright Lawsuit
Posted on April 25, 2025 by Neil Cole
Warner Bros. Discovery has won a significant legal victory as a U.S. federal judge dismissed a copyright lawsuit brought by the estate of Joseph Shuster, co-creator of the iconic superhero Superman. The ruling clears a potential obstacle ahead of the highly anticipated release of the studio's new "Superman" film, directed by James Gunn and set to debut in theaters on July 11th, 2025.
The lawsuit, filed in January by Shuster's estate, claimed Warner Bros. improperly used the Superman character in international markets such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and others that follow U.K.-style copyright laws. The estate argued that the rights to Superman had reverted to them under British copyright law in 2017, 25 years after Shuster's death, and sought damages for the character’s continued use abroad.
On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman ruled in favor of Warner Bros., stating the New York court lacked jurisdiction over the case. Judge Furman emphasized that the lawsuit was "brought explicitly under the laws of foreign countries, not the laws of the United States," making it inapplicable in U.S. federal court.
The dismissal is the latest development in a long-running legal battle over Superman's ownership that dates back decades. Superman, first introduced to the world by Shuster and co-creator Jerry Siegel in 1938, was originally licensed to Detective Comics, the company that would later become DC Comics, a Warner Bros. subsidiary.
With legal uncertainties behind it, Warner Bros. is moving full steam ahead toward the release of "Superman" this summer. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker James Gunn, the film stars David Corenswet in the titular role and is expected to usher in a new era for the DC cinematic universe.
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