Warner Bros hit with Superman copyright lawsuit ahead of new movie | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Monday
June 16, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
MONDAY, JUNE 16, 2025
Warner Bros hit with Superman copyright lawsuit ahead of new movie

World+Biz

Reuters
01 February, 2025, 12:55 pm
Last modified: 01 February, 2025, 01:03 pm

Related News

  • OpenAI seeks to block Indian media groups from copyright lawsuit
  • 'Superman' trailer breaks records as most viewed in DC and Warner Bros history
  • Matrix 5 in the works with Drew Goddard's direction
  • Tom Cruise signs deal to make films with Warner Bros.
  • Warner Bros delays 'Dune', 'Lord of the Rings' films due to strike

Warner Bros hit with Superman copyright lawsuit ahead of new movie

The lawsuit was filed on Friday in federal court in New York City by the estate of Superman illustrator Joseph Shuster, who created the famous superhero along with writer Jerome Siegel

Reuters
01 February, 2025, 12:55 pm
Last modified: 01 February, 2025, 01:03 pm
The exterior of the Warner Bros. Discovery Atlanta campus is pictured in Atlanta, Georgia, US, May 2, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/Alyssa Pointer/File Photo
The exterior of the Warner Bros. Discovery Atlanta campus is pictured in Atlanta, Georgia, US, May 2, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/Alyssa Pointer/File Photo

Summary:

  • Suit cites rights of co-creator's estate under British law
  • Estate says Warner failed to pay royalties as required
  • Warner promises to "vigorously defend" against the suit

The estate of one of Superman's co-creators has filed a copyright lawsuit in a US court against Warner Bros. Discovery ahead of the release of its new movie, "Superman," part of a planned reboot of the DC Comics superhero film franchise.

The lawsuit was filed on Friday in federal court in New York City by the estate of Superman illustrator Joseph Shuster, who created the famous superhero along with writer Jerome Siegel.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

The lawsuit noted that Shuster and Siegel had licensed their rights to the character to Detective Comics, the predecessor of DC Comics, now a subsidiary of Warner. The lawsuit claims that under British law, Shuster's rights reverted to his estate in 2017, 25 years after his death.

The estate accused Warner of unlawfully failing to pay royalties to use Superman in Britain, Canada, Australia and other countries outside the United States.

The new Superman movie, directed by James Gunn and starring David Corenswet, is set to be released in theaters in July. The new litigation could complicate the international distribution of the film. It marks the latest salvo in a long-running legal battle over the rights to the character.

Shuster's estate is seeking monetary damages and a court order blocking Warner from depicting Superman without a license.

"We fundamentally disagree with the merits of the lawsuit, and will vigorously defend our rights," a Warner spokesperson said.

"This suit is not intended to deprive fans of their next Superman, but rather seeks just compensation for Joe Shuster's fundamental contributions as the co-creator of Superman," the estate's attorney, Marc Toberoff, said in a statement.

The lawsuit said Shuster and Siegel began creating Superman comic strips in 1934. DC's predecessor, Detective Comics, began publishing their comics in 1938.

Shuster and Siegel and their estates have been involved in litigation with Warner over the rights to Superman for decades. The San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals determined in 2013 that the creators could not reclaim their rights from Warner under US law.

The new lawsuit, however, cites British law. The estate claimed that the distribution of works featuring Superman since 2017 - including movies, television shows and video games - infringes its copyright in countries that follow British law.

Top News

Warner Bros / Superman / copyright lawsuit

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Photo collage of ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun. Collage: TBS
    ICT orders newspaper ads summoning Hasina to appear before tribunal on 24 June
  • Unresolved mysteries behind abductions, rescues
    'Justice' as punishment: Inquiry commission reveals impact of criminal prosecutions on disappearance victims
  • BNP leader Ishraque Hossain held a view-exchange meeting with waste management officials and Dhaka South City Corporation staff inside Nagar Bhaban on 16 June 2025. Photos: Hasan Mehedi
    Ishraque holds meeting inside Nagar Bhaban as Dhaka South 'mayor'

MOST VIEWED

  • Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur. TBS Sketch
    Merger of 5 Islamic banks at final stage: BB governor
  • UCB launches Bangladesh's first microservices-based open API banking platform
    UCB launches Bangladesh's first microservices-based open API banking platform
  • Photo: Collected
    Pakistan rejects reports of missile supply to Iran
  • Non-performing loans surge by Tk74,570cr in Q1 as hidden rot exposed
    Non-performing loans surge by Tk74,570cr in Q1 as hidden rot exposed
  • Crore-taka bank accounts edge down by 719 in March quarter
    Crore-taka bank accounts edge down by 719 in March quarter
  • Nepal begins 38MW hydropower export to Bangladesh
    Nepal begins 38MW hydropower export to Bangladesh

Related News

  • OpenAI seeks to block Indian media groups from copyright lawsuit
  • 'Superman' trailer breaks records as most viewed in DC and Warner Bros history
  • Matrix 5 in the works with Drew Goddard's direction
  • Tom Cruise signs deal to make films with Warner Bros.
  • Warner Bros delays 'Dune', 'Lord of the Rings' films due to strike

Features

The GLS600 overall has a curvaceous nature, with seamless blends across every panel. PHOTO: Arfin Kazi

Mercedes Maybach GLS600: Definitive Luxury

3h | Wheels
Renowned authors Imdadul Haque Milon, Mohit Kamal, and poet–children’s writer Rashed Rouf seen at Current Book Centre, alongside the store's proprietor, Shahin. Photo: Collected

From ‘Screen and Culture’ to ‘Current Book House’: Chattogram’s oldest surviving bookstore

20h | Panorama
Photos: Collected

Kurtis that make a great office wear

2d | Mode
Among pet birds in the country, lovebirds are the most common, and they are also the most numerous in the haat. Photo: Junayet Rashel

Where feathers meet fortune: How a small pigeon stall became Dhaka’s premiere bird market

4d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

ICT orders newspapers ads summoning Hasina to appear before tribunal on 24 June

ICT orders newspapers ads summoning Hasina to appear before tribunal on 24 June

23m | TBS Today
Who was IRGC intelligence chief Kazemi killed in Israeli strike?

Who was IRGC intelligence chief Kazemi killed in Israeli strike?

48m | TBS World
Yunus-Tareq meeting; What Amir Khusru said after returning home after participating

Yunus-Tareq meeting; What Amir Khusru said after returning home after participating

1h | TBS Today
Iran launches missile attack on Israel again

Iran launches missile attack on Israel again

2h | TBS World
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net