2012 Merchandise & Miscellaneous News Archives

August 15, 2012: Ruling on Shuster Copyright Claim Looms

Trial of Superman Variety reports that a federal judge will soon decide whether to invalidate an effort by the heirs of Joe Shuster to reclaim their stake in the copyright ownership of Superman.

    U.S. District Judge Otis Wright cancelled a hearing that was slated for Monday on DC Comics' motion for summary judgment in the dispute, saying he will decide the issue without oral argument.

    Mark Warren Peary, nephew of "Superman" co-creator Joseph Shuster and executor of his estate, filed a notice of termination in 2003, which means the rights to early Man of Steel works would be reclaimed in October 2013. A provision of the Copyright Act allows creators and their heirs to recapture their works; the aim is to afford authors a greater share of the proceeds given that they often have little leverage at the start of their careers.

The judge has not indicated when he might reach his decision.

Read the full report at Variety.com.



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