Warner Bros. Discovery Wins Dismissal of Superman Copyright Lawsuit Ahead of Movie Release

Warner Bros. Discovery successfully secured the dismissal of a copyright lawsuit tied to Superman’s international rights, alleviating a potential legal obstacle just ahead of its new Superman movie launch this summer. U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman ruled that the New York court lacked jurisdiction because the claims were based on foreign copyright laws, not U.S. law.

The case, brought by the estate of Superman co-creator Joseph Shuster, alleged that the rights to the character had reverted under British law in 2017, 25 years after Shuster’s death. The estate sought damages for the alleged unauthorized use of Superman in countries like the U.K., Canada, Australia, India, Israel, and Ireland. Despite the dismissal, the estate has refiled its lawsuit in New York state court.

Warner Bros., which maintains that DC Comics holds full control of Superman rights, expressed satisfaction with the federal court’s decision. The upcoming Superman film, directed by James Gunn and starring David Corenswet, remains on track for its scheduled July release.