Marvel compared the lawsuit to a similar case it won at a U.S. 'Ditko was accorded some creative freedom in how Lee’s story would manifest on paper, but Lee maintained ultimate control over the pages,' Marvel said. It argued Friday that the case record showed Ditko worked under Marvel editor-in-chief Stan Lee 'subject to Lee's editorial discretion.'

The termination law does not apply to works made for hire, which Marvel said prevents the artists from recovering the rights. Marvel in 2021 sued Ditko's estate and several other artists who wrote and illustrated comics in the 1950s, 60s and 70s in response to their bids to terminate copyrights they granted to Marvel related to characters including Iron Man, Ant-Man and Thor. Under the Copyright Act, a creator can terminate a copyright assignment after decades under certain circumstances. Representatives for Marvel and Ditko's estate did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday. 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. 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. May 22 (Reuters) - Walt Disney Co's (DIS.N) 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.

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