Disney sues in L.A. to protect Marvel superhero franchises

The Walt Disney Company has filed lawsuits in Los Angeles and New York seeking to stop the heirs to Marvel Comics artists and writers from reclaiming rights to characters such as Iron Man, Thor and Spider-Man, which their relatives helped create.

Disney-owned Marvel is aiming to invalidate copyright termination notices served against the entertainment giant by, among others, the younger brother of the late Marvel figurehead Stan Lee and the estate of Steve Ditko — who together created Marvel superheroes Spider-Man, Doctor Strange and others.

The media giant acquired Marvel in 2009. Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe is a media franchise centered on a series of superhero films produced by Marvel Studios and based on characters that appear in its comic books.

The franchise has made nearly two dozen films, including some of the highest-grossing superhero movies ever, including Marvel Studios’ four Avengers films.

The lawsuit filed Friday by Disney targeted Larry Lieber, who helped create 1960s-era characters Iron Man, Thor and Ant-Man, and the estate of Black Widow co-creator Donald L. Heck. Lieber’s brother, Stan Lee, was Marvel’s chief writer and editor, and co-creator of characters including Daredevil, the Avengers, the Hulk, X-Men and Black Panther.

Disney is seeking to have federal judges on both coasts rule that the Burbank-based entertainment conglomerate is the sole owner of the rights to the characters.

Attorney Marc Toberoff, who is representing Lieber and the Ditko estate, did not respond to a request for comment.

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