“Spider-Man: No Way Home” (2021)
Release courtesy Sony Pictures/Marvel Entertainment/Everett Collection
It looks like Marvel won’t be fighting its battle over the rights to Spider-Man and Doctor Strange in the new year. Lawyers for the company and Steve Ditko’s estate notified the court Wednesday that they have reached an amicable settlement and expect to file a stipulation of dismissal with prejudice in the coming weeks.
It all started in 2021 when Marvel filed a series of lawsuits in response to copyright termination notices from Larry Lieber and the estates of Gene Colan, Steve Ditko, Don Heck, and Don Rico. There was a very long list of characters involved including Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, Hulk, and Thor. In June, all but one matter was settled.
The last remaining feud is with the heirs of Ditko, who co-created Spider-Man and Doctor Strange. according to This termination noticeThe estate wanted to reclaim the rights to the comics including Amazing imagination (including Spider-Man’s 1962 debut) and Strange tales (Including the first appearance of Doctor Strange in 1963). In addition to the artwork and stories themselves, the termination notices also targeted “any character, story element, or indicia reasonably associated with the works.”
Marvel is repped by O’Melveny’s Dan Petrocelli and Molly Lens, and Patrick Ditko is repped by Marc Toberoff. Neither party responded to a request for comment.
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