Companies continue battle for Marvel superheroes

A longtime dispute about who owns the rights to Marvel’s iconic comic book characters is set to continue in a federal appeals court.

A panel of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments in an ongoing case involving Colorado-based Stan Lee Media and The Walt Disney Company over superheros such as Spider-Man, X-Men and The Hulk.

A federal judge last year dismissed a lawsuit in which Stan Lee Media claimed copyright of the characters and sought profits Disney made from movies and merchandise featuring them. Disney bought Marvel in 2009.

Stan Lee Media, which is no longer affiliated with comic book artist Stan Lee, appealed the judge’s order. Disney has argued that other courts have already ruled against Stan Lee Media on the same matter.