Jeffrey S. Kravitz was featured in the Daily Journal article "Epic Battle Over Superman copyright Headed Back to Appellate court." Full text can be found in the November 2, 2015, issue, but a synopsis is below.
The heirs of Superman co-creator Jerome Siegal have been involved in a decade-plus-long litigation battle with Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and DC Comics Inc. over the rights for the acclaimed superhero. Most recently, Laura Siegel Larson, Jerome's daughter, is seeking to overturn a partial summary judgment in 2013 which held that the two companies owned all of the rights to Superman since 2001.
The Family has been attempting to terminate DC's right to their half of the royalties under the Copyright Act since Jerome Siegel's death in 1996. The statute's rule gives heirs the ability to reclaim ownership after a certain period of time but DC refused. The rejection led to negotiations that in time, fell through and has brought about over 12 years of litigation.
According to Fox Rothschild Partner Jeffrey S. Kravitz, the court is growing weary of the litigations due to its duration.
"This case has gone on and on and on and on," he said, adding that the longevity has become the biggest issue at hand.
"At this point it's not a monumental ruling on the copyright act, [but] more a question of finality and repose," Kravitz said. "There has to be an end to every piece of litigation."
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