DC Comics has a right to a copyright on the Batmobile vehicle portrayed in the Batman cartoon and movie franchise, an appeals court said Wednesday.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the car qualifies as a “automotive character” that can be protected under copyright law, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The ruling comes in response to a challenge by DC Comics of a California mechanic who manufactured Batmobile replicas and sold them for $90,000.
“As Batman so sagely told Robin, ‘In our well-ordered society, protection of private property is essential,'” judge Sandra Ikuta wrote in the court’s opinion.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- Jane Fonda Champions Climate Action for Every Generation
- Biden’s Campaign Is In Trouble. Will the Turnaround Plan Work?
- Why We're Spending So Much Money Now
- The Financial Influencers Women Actually Want to Listen To
- Breaker Sunny Choi Is Heading to Paris
- Why TV Can’t Stop Making Silly Shows About Lady Journalists
- The Case for Wearing Shoes in the House
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Write to Justin Worland at justin.worland@time.com