26-cv-00517 | Marvel Sues: Superhero Merchandise Sellers Should Check

Case overview

• Plaintiff: Marvel Characters, Inc (a Marvel company)
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
• Filed: October 23, 2026
• Status: On the filing day (October 23), the docket shows several Sealed Documents, three ‘Miscellaneous Relief’ motions, a memorandum in support, affidavits, a corporate disclosure statement, and notices of appearance; summons issued on October 26. The motions’ content is not yet public.

This is the 2nd Schedule A case we have seen in the Northern District of Indiana, after 26-cv-00503. Many sealed filings and several motions on day one usually mean the plaintiff is also seeking a TRO and related relief, but only the court’s actual orders are conclusive.

The complaint and Schedule A defendant list are not yet public; the rights and products at issue will be updated.

What may happen next

Schedule A plaintiffs usually move for a TRO within days of filing. Once granted, marketplaces freeze defendants’ funds.

Seller checklist

• Check titles and keywords for Marvel, Avengers, and character names such as Spider-Man or Iron Man
• Check apparel, phone cases, posters, and figures for its characters or logos
• Cosplay and ‘inspired by’ items can also involve character imagery

Already frozen?

Keep the platform notice, emails from plaintiff’s counsel, affected listings, and sales records. Hold off on replying to the plaintiff or signing anything, and have counsel review the case. See: Store Frozen by a TRO: The First 72 Hours.

Sources

• CourtListener public docket: 26-cv-00517