New York, N.Y. — A lawsuit filed by the estate of Joseph Schuster, co-creator of Superman, seeking to block the release of an upcoming film, has been dismissed by a federal court. The legal action aimed to prevent the film from debuting in countries once part of the British Empire, including Australia, Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. The case was driven by claims of copyright infringement, but the court found it lacked the appropriate jurisdiction to proceed.
Mark Warren Peary, who represents Schuster’s estate, initiated the lawsuit in January, alleging continued infringement of ownership rights in the aforementioned regions. The estate sought both damages and an injunction to stop distribution, asserting their standing as rights holders. However, this attempt faced significant legal hurdles.
In a ruling from Judge Jesse Furman, the court concluded that it did not have subject-matter jurisdiction over the case’s claims relating to the alleged infringement. According to the judge, the legal framework of U.S. law does not extend to the jurisdictions in question. “The case must be and is dismissed,” stated the ruling. With no jurisdiction established, the judge also rendered Peary’s request for a preliminary injunction moot.
Warner Bros. Discovery, the film’s distributor, was prepared to defend against the lawsuit, asserting the validity of their rights to release the film under current laws. The studio maintained that the estate’s claims lacked both merit and the necessary legal foundation to proceed.
The ruling clears the way for the highly anticipated film, directed by James Gunn, to hit theaters as planned on July 11. Fans of the franchise are eager to see how this new installment will reinvent the beloved superhero’s story for modern audiences.
This legal battle underscores ongoing complexities surrounding intellectual property rights in the entertainment industry, especially as they intersect with international law. As venues like New York and Los Angeles continue to be pivotal in the film landscape, cases such as this highlight the intricacies creators and estates face in protecting their legacies.