The legal saga over who owns “Ghost Rider” has come to an end. “Ghost Rider” co-creator Gary Friedrich lost his case against Marvel, Columbia Pictures and Hasbro over who has the ownership rights to the popular character.

According to Digital Spy, Friedrich first filed his complaint in 2007, stating that he created Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider in 1968 and agreed to publish “Ghost Rider” with Magazine Management, the precursor to Marvel. According to Friedrich, Marvel allegedly didn’t register its publications of the title with the U.S. Copyright Office and Friedrich reclaimed the rights to the character in 2001.

However, according to both Digital Spy and Bleeding Cool, the district judge presiding over this case, Katherine Forrest, has stated that Friedrich must give up his rights to the character when he endorsed checks that had language that gave the rights to Magazine Management.

Friedrich’s lawyer, Charles S. Kramer, stated to Bleeding Cool that the case will be appealed.

You can read more about the lawsuit at the sites linked to above. And, in any case, fans of the character will be able to see him in the upcoming film “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance.”

What do you think about this news? What are your opinions about who should have won the case? Give your opinions in the comments section below.