Superman: The Endless Battle

In Court Forever?

U.S. District Court Judge Otis D. Wright has ruled in favor of Warner Bros. and agreed that a 1992 agreement between then DC Comics head Paul Levitz and Jean Peavy, the sister of Superman co-creator Joe Schuster, precludes the Schuster heirs from terminating DC’s Superman rights.  This is a big victory for the studio, but the battle is by no means over.  It appears quite likely that the Schuster heirs will appeal.  Four years ago another California judge ruled that the Siegel heirs did have the right to terminate their agreement and assigned part of the Superman rights including the costume, Clark Kent and the Krypton origin story to the heirs.  In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Toberoff  said "We respectfully disagree with its factual and legal conclusions, and it is surprising given that the judge appeared to emphatically agree with our position at the summary judgment hearing."