Warner Bros. won a long-running legal battle with heirs of Superman co-creator Joseph Shuster, who had been trying to reclaim their 50 percent interest in the character, according to a report by the Los Angeles Times [1].
The win means that the studio won't have to renegotiate its deals with Shuster and Jerry Siegel, Superman's other co-creator, before introducing new content based on the superhero.
Superman is one of Warner's most valuable characters, having generated more than $500 million at the domestic box office with five films and billions of dollars more from television series such as Smallville, toys and games, and 74 years’ worth of comic books.
Warner Bros. next Superman movie is Man of Steel, which is scheduled for release in June. The Shuster estate is expected to appeal the decision.
Links:
[1] http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-superman-shuster-warner-20121017,0,3093750.story