The iconic Superman, the hero who marked the superhero genre, is again the center of a legal battle
International rights at the center of the application
As reported ExpirationShuster’s family has filed a cause to prevent James Gunn from Superman from the next film from being released in Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia. The reason is that, according to the laws of these countries, Shuster’s copyright on Superman reversed his family in 2017 (and in 2021 in Canada), which would give them control of their commercial exploitation in those regions.
The legal basis of the case is based on the regulations of the British tradition countries, in which copyright positions are automatically canceled 25 years after the author’s death. In this case, Joe Shuster died in 1992, therefore, according to his family, Warner Bros. and DC Comics would exploit Superman in these countries without their consent or payment of Royalties.
A story of legal disputes
This is not the first comparison between the original creators of Superman and DC Comics. In 1938, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster sold the character’s rights to Wash $ 130 (equivalent to less than $ 3,000 current adequate to inflation). Already in 1947, the authors sued the publisher for the rights of the character, who led to an agreement for $ 94,000 (about one million today).
However, the disputes have not ended here. Over the years, the Shuster family has tried to recover part of the rights, claiming that the original remuneration was unjustly low considering the overall impact of Superman. The current case is only the most recent chapter of a long dispute story.
How does this affect Superman comics?
Despite the question, the impact on Superman’s comics seems limited. So far, the ban on publishing comics in these countries has not been mentioned in the application, although it can influence their distribution. However, the legal battle could have a Indirect effect on the characterEspecially if the promotion and dissemination of the next film are stopped.
In addition to the Shuster case, there is another key factor in the future of Superman: the character will enter public domain in 2034. This means that the original version of the hero could be used freely, although the modern versions will remain under the control of the DC comics.
Superman is not the only hero who was the center of legal disputes. In Marvel, the family of Jack Kirby fought for years for the rights of iconic characters such as X-Men, Thor and The Fantastic Fourreaching an agreement with the publisher in 2014. Also in DC, the case of Bill Finger controversy generated, since, for decades, his contribution to the creation of Batman It was ignored in favor of Bob Kane. It was not until 2015 that the finger received official credit as the co-creator of The Dark Gentleman.
A dispute with consequences beyond cinema
While the current request is focused on James Gunn’s film, the branches could go far. A favorable bankruptcy of the Shuster family could open the door to new statements on the rights of Superman and other DC characters. In addition, it could influence future negotiations between creators and large publishers, at a time when the value of intellectual property is more crucial than ever.
Him Superman icon Not only was it a key figure in comics, but also in cinema, television and merchandising. The way in which this request is resolved could marry a precedent for the future of other superhero franchises. In a world where copyright and intellectual property are in constant revision, this conflict could redefine the way the bequests of classic characters are managed.
Over time, DC Comics has explored several versions of Superman, from Christopher Reeve Classic to that played by Henry Cavill. Each adaptation has offered a new perspective on the hero and this type of legal controversies could determine which versions can remain exploited in the future. With the arrival of a new era of the DCU, any limitation of rights could influence the creative decisions of Warner Bros. Discovery and its film universe.