Marvel & Fox Settlement Over X-Men Characters


X-Men creators Marvel and Twentieth Century Fox have settled a federal lawsuit over licensing rights to the X-Men characters, reports Variety. Terms of the settlement were not released, but the dispute was "amicably resolved" and both sides are looking forward to expanding the relationship, according to a Fox statement issued Monday.

Fox produced the 2000 film X-Men, based on the original comic book characters. Marvel and the studio sued each other in 2001. Fox sued Marvel Enterprises, Tribune Entertainment and Fireworks Entertainment, claiming their syndicated TV show 'Mutant X' violated an agreement licensing the 'X-Men' characters for future films.

Marvel countersued, asking the court to dismiss Fox's claims and arguing that 'Mutant X' used different characters. A federal judge in New York ruled that the series could proceed as long as no reference was made to the original 'X-Men' comic books, characters or Fox movie. However, the judge allowed Fox to pursue a claim of breach of contract.

The court settlement though has not affected the X-Men sequels release which will go ahead on May 2nd.

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