Stan Lee Expects to Settle Royalty Suit

Spider-Man creator Stan Lee, who spent two years in court fighting Marvel Enterprises Inc. for royalties from the characters he invented, said he expected to settle the case before a judge decided how much the company owed him.

“All I’m looking for is a fair settlement,” Lee said in an interview in his Beverly Hills office. “The last thing I would want to do is bankrupt Marvel. I love the company, and I love the people there.”

U.S. District Judge Robert Sweet’s ruling last month entitled Lee to 10% of Marvel’s profit from films, television shows and other products based on Lee’s inventions, which include the Incredible Hulk.

New York-based Marvel said it would appeal.