For years, the rights to Superman have been fought for time and time again. The creators of Superman, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, have fought for the rights to their creation for almost as long as the character existed. When the two artists passed away, the supposed heirs to Superman continued their fight, though as of late, courts have taken to favoring DC Comics. Recent battles have ended with DC retaining the rights to the character, and the case had made it all the way to the Supreme Court...but not for long. Following the most recent ruling, the long battle over the rights to Superman may finally be over.
Earlier today, the Supreme Court announced that it would be standing by the earlier rulings, and would not be reviewing the case against DC Comics, effectively crippling any case against the company.
Back in 1992, a deal between DC Comics and Shuster's estate was created. Joe Shuster's sister, Jean, and Frank Shuster gave DC the rights to Superman in exchange for a $25,000 per-year pension. The heirs' lawyer, Marc Toberoff, claimed that the agreement was null and void because laws giving executors of an estate such powers weren't created until 1998. Unfortunately for Toberoff, the courts didn't agree, citing that family's claims would have contradicted "extensive legislative history."
The legal battles over Superman have gone much further back than 1992. The fight over Superman began back in the late 1940s, with a new case being brought up every few years. The battles continued on in one form or another for decades: throughout the 1970s and '90s, Seigel and Shuster's estates have tried to recover the rights to Superman, though more often than not, the courts ruled in favor of DC.
Strangely enough, one ruling essentially forced DC to create the Man of Steel film. The courts ruled that if a Superman film wasn't created on or before 2011, the heirs would have the right to sue for extensive damages. In 2010, David S. Goyer was hired by DC to write Man of Steel, and DC avoided having to pay.
Where the case against DC goes from here is uncertain. The Supreme Court's ruling against the Shuster family is a major blow, and at least for the time being, it seems that Superman will be staying with DC.
