Warner Bros, DC Comics Win Royalty Case

“Superman” heirs said “sweetheart deal” cut them out of millions.

A U.S. district court judge on Wednesday ruled that Warner Bros. had paid "fair market value" license fees to DC Comics for the rights to "Superman."

 

A case had been brought last year by Joanne Siegel and Laura Siegel Larson (widow and daughter of Superman co-creator Jerome Siegel, respectively) against the studio, regarding copyright royalties. The plaintiffs claimed that Warner Bros and DC were involved in a "sweetheart deal," which, in turn, made their royalty amounts lower.

 

Last year, a federal court awarded the Siegel heirs half of the copyright in the famed Action Comics #1 edition, which features Superman.

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