Superman co-creator’s estate sues Warner Bros. over copyright rights

The estate of Joseph Shuster, co-creator of Superman, has filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros. Discovery, alleging the company failed to pay royalties required under British law.

Filed in a New York federal court, the lawsuit claims that Shuster’s rights to Superman reverted to his estate in 2017, 25 years after his death. The estate accuses Warner of unlawfully using the character in Britain, Canada, Australia, and other countries outside the United States without proper compensation.

The lawsuit comes ahead of Warner’s planned Superman reboot, directed by James Gunn and set for release in July. Legal complications could affect the film’s international distribution.

Shuster’s estate is seeking damages and a court order to block Warner from using Superman without a license. Warner has rejected the claims, stating it will “vigorously defend” its rights.

Attorney Marc Toberoff, representing the estate, said the lawsuit aims to secure fair compensation for Shuster’s contributions rather than disrupt the new film’s release.

Warner and the estates of Shuster and his collaborator, Jerome Siegel, have been entangled in legal battles over Superman’s rights for decades. While a U.S. court ruled in 2013 that the creators’ rights could not be reclaimed under American law, the estate now argues that British law grants it ownership in several international markets.

The lawsuit contends that any Superman-related works distributed in these regions since 2017—including films, television series, and video games—violate its copyright.

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