Marvel, Artist’s Estate Ask Judge for Pre-Trial Wins in Superhero Copyright Dispute

Walt Disney Co’s Marvel and the estate of artist Steve Ditko both asked a Manhattan federal judge on Friday to hand them a win without waiting for trial in their copyright dispute over rights to superheroes Spider-Man and Doctor Strange.

Marvel urged the court to reject the estate’s effort to reclaim Ditko’s interest in the characters, arguing he co-created them on the company’s behalf. Ditko’s estate argued that he developed his heroes and stories independently, and that Marvel intentionally avoided hiring him because of the “dire state of its business” at the time.

Representatives for Marvel and Ditko’s estate did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday. Ditko died in 2018.

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