Lawsuit over international rights threatens Warner Bros.’ rollout of Superman

Warner Bros. Discovery is facing a lawsuit over the rights to Superman, threatening the release of the studio’s upcoming blockbuster film in several countries. The estate of Joseph Shuster, the co-creator of Superman, claims that WBD lost its international rights to the character years ago but continued to use them without authorization or compensation. The lawsuit, filed in a New York federal court, aims to secure a portion of profits from works linked to the alleged copyright infringement, including films like Zack Snyder’s Justice League and Black Adam, in countries such as Canada, the U.K., and Australia.

In response, Warner Bros. Discovery stated, “We strongly disagree with the claims of the lawsuit and will vigorously protect our rights.” This legal action poses a potential obstacle to the release of Superman, slated for July 11 as the character’s first standalone film in over a decade. The film is a cornerstone project for DC Studios co-chiefs James Gunn and Peter Safran, who have big plans for the DC universe under the leadership of WBD CEO David Zaslav.

The ownership of Superman by DC dates back to 1938 when Siegal and Shuster sold the character’s rights for $130. Despite facing various legal challenges over the years, DC has maintained control over the superhero. The latest lawsuit seeks to leverage U.K. copyright law to reclaim the rights to Superman, arguing that Shuster’s estate regained ownership after his death in 1992.

The lawsuit also questions the validity of previous agreements that may have surrendered the estate’s rights to terminate DC’s ownership of Superman. Represented by renowned copyright termination lawyer Marc Toberoff, the Shuster estate is seeking legal protection against further exploitation of Superman’s international rights in key markets like the U.K., Australia, Canada, and Ireland.

Overall, this legal battle could have significant implications for the future of the Superman franchise and the broader DC universe. It remains to be seen how Warner Bros. Discovery will navigate these challenges as the release of Superman approaches.



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