Sci Fi Updates - Court Awards Superman Rights to Siegel Heirs

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Court Awards Superman Rights to Siegel Heirs

By Chris McKeown, on 31-03-2008

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Superman

According to the New York Times, the heirs of Superman creator Jerome Siegel have won a court ruling which entitles them to a portion of the US copyright on Superman. Over 70 years ago, Siegel sold his Superman rights to Detective Comics for $130. In a move we can't really understand (we don't speak legal-eze), the judge left intact Time Warner's international rights to the character, which they presumably bought from DC sometime after DC got them from Siegel???

The judge ruled that the heirs' ownership of the character should have been restored in 1999,...

and they are therefore due a percentage of the profits from any Superman material created after that date. It's unclear of they will be entitled only to a portion of DC's profits, or if Time Warner will owe them a cut from Superman Returns as well.

One thing's for sure - this is a move that leaves fans bewildered, as we wait and wonder what will happen to the Justice League film, the Superman Returns sequel, and even Smallville.

Last update : 31-03-2008