The ruling Wednesday, October 17, 2012 regarding heirs of Superman artist Joe Shuster who had been fighting in court to reclaim the copyrights of DC Comics. U.S. District Judge Otis Wright II ruled the rights to Superman had been relinquished more than two decades ago. Meaning that DC Comics and Warner Bros. are the rightful owners and will retain all rights to continue using the character in books, films, television and other mediums. Superman’s co-creators signed away their ability to reclaim copyrights to the Man of Steel over 20 years ago. Shuster and writer Jerry Siegel created Superman in 1938 in Action Comics #1. Back in April, the $412 check that DC Comics wrote to acquire Superman and other creative works by Shuster and Siegel sold for $160,000 in an online auction. Man of Steel directed by Zach Snyder is scheduled to hit theaters in 2013.

“We respectfully disagree with its factual and legal conclusions, and it is surprising given that the judge appeared to emphatically agree with our position at the summary judgment hearing,” the Shusters’ attorney Marc Toberoff wrote in a statement.

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