Warner Bros Loses Superman's Origin

[ashley76]

Variety is reporting that Federal Judge Stephen Larson ruled in favor of the Siegel family to recapture the rights to additional Superman works including the first two weeks of the daily newspaper comic strip. Here is an excerpt from the article...

In a statement, Warner Bros. and DC said, "Warner and DC Comics are pleased that the court has affirmed that the vast majority of key elements associated with the Superman character that were developed after Action Comics No. 1 are not part of the copyrights that the plaintiffs have recaptured and therefore remain solely owned by DC Comics."

The Schuster estate originally did not participate with the Siegels' case because Schuster has no spouse or children. But his estate later won a ruling of a recapture identical to the Siegels, which will be effective in 2013. At that point, the Siegels and Schusters will own the entire copyright to Action Comics No. 1. That will give them the chance to set up Superman pics, TV shows and other projects at another studio.

If they want to get a new "Superman" or even "Justice League" pic featuring the superhero, Warner Bros. and DC will be forced to go into production by 2011.

Click on the link above for the entire article. All in all the news keeps getting worse for DC and Superman...... Visit the News Section for more...

[Dick Grayson]

i understand that the Siegel and Shuster families, have the right to own the original Superman. i also believe that they are entitled to the rights, but i see it the same way the judge ruled, creators should only have rights to the way the character was at them time of creation. the Superman that we know today, if there has to be an owner, should be owned by various people that contributed writin, to the character's stories. the stories and writin is what give the character life and personality. many writers through the years have created Superman into what he is today. the original Superman was one dimensional compared to present day Superman....and a whole different character. he also wasnt as strong and didnt have all the abilities that he has today.....that includes his signature "flight" power....he originaly only leaped around. he wasnt as humane and level headed as he is today....the orginal Superman would rough up the bad guys, and would cause natural disasters if he didnt get his way. all that said i wonder how they will rework his origin story.....its goin to take alot of gettin used to for me...if even that. so, i guess Lex Luthor is next....

[The Flash III]

If DC doesn't get off its butt, we really will have "A World Without Superman" It would be a disaster for DC, but interesting at the same time.

[bat1987]

This cant be good, if I understand correctly they cant use Superman`s Kryptonian origin story - not good at all.

[TheGameAH]

Hmmmm, is this why were getting an "updated" secret origin series?

[ashley76]

Hmmmm, is this why were getting an "updated" secret origin series?

I thought the same thing but, Secret Origin was planned before this I believe, but, I wonder if it will affect the release of the comic...

[Grisle]

Wow. This is strange indeed. Hopefully nothing gets ruined...I'm sure the writers will work things out in the future.