The estate of Joseph Shuster, co-creator of Superman, has filed a copyright lawsuit against Warner Bros. Discovery in federal court in New York City, just ahead of the release of a new Superman movie.
The lawsuit alleges that Warner Bros. has unlawfully failed to pay royalties for using Superman in countries outside the United States, specifically in the UK, Canada, Australia, and other jurisdictions that follow British law.
Warner Bros. has strongly opposed the lawsuit and stated, “We fundamentally disagree with the merits of the lawsuit, and will vigorously defend our rights.”
The estate’s attorney, Marc Toberoff, clarified that the lawsuit seeks just compensation for Joe Shuster’s fundamental contributions as the co-creator of Superman.
The estate contends that under British copyright law, Shuster’s rights to the character reverted to his estate in 2017, 25 years after his death. They accuse Warner Bros. of continuing to exploit Superman in these countries without authorization, using the character in movies, television shows, and video games. The estate is seeking monetary damages and a court order to prevent Warner Bros. from depicting Superman without a proper license.
This is not the first legal dispute between the estate of Superman’s co-creators and Warner Bros. The legal battles have been ongoing since the 1940s when Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster initially licensed their rights to Detective Comics, the precursor to DC Comics. Over the years, there have been multiple lawsuits and settlements concerning the rights and royalties associated with Superman.
In 2013, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the creators could not reclaim their rights from Warner Bros. under U.S. law. However, the current lawsuit references British law, which has different provisions regarding copyright reversion.
The new Superman movie, directed by James Gunn and starring David Corenswet, is scheduled for release in theaters this July. However, ongoing legal litigation may complicate the film’s international distribution. The attorney representing the estate has emphasized that the lawsuit is not meant to prevent fans from enjoying the upcoming Superman film; instead, it seeks fair compensation.
This latest legal challenge adds another layer to the long-standing dispute over the rights to the iconic superhero. As the case progresses, fans and industry observers will closely monitor how it may affect Superman’s future in international markets.
“Superman” is scheduled to be released in the U.S. on July 11, 2025.
