Editing Steve Ditko (section)

== Legacy ==
In 2021, Steve Ditko's younger brother Patrick, executor of his estate, in cooperation with the estates of artistic colleagues [[Don Heck]], [[Gene Colan]] and [[Don Rico]] filed a lawsuit to terminate and reclaim the copyrights for their characters from Marvel Comics under the justification of the [[Copyright Act of 1976]]. Marvel countersued the litigants citing the same law since the creations were made under [[work for hire]] contracts, the company had full ownership. While the other participants settled in June 2023, the Ditko estate persisted until December 8, 2023. Although the settlements are confidential, Marvel's full ownership of the copyrights was secured for undisclosed sums to the creators.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Holub |first1=Christian |title=Marvel settles lawsuit with Spider-Man co-creator's estate |url=https://ew.com/marvel-settles-lawsuit-spider-man-co-creator-steve-ditko-estate-8413648 |access-date=9 December 2023 |agency=Time-Warner |archive-date=December 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209133547/https://ew.com/marvel-settles-lawsuit-spider-man-co-creator-steve-ditko-estate-8413648 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In June 2022, a mural was completed in Ditko's hometown. Approved by [[Marvel Comics]], and featuring his two most well-known characters ([[Spider-Man]] and [[Doctor Strange|Dr. Strange]]), the outline of the artwork was printed upon large white sheets of durable material. Community members painted upon the sheets during the winter and spring months, and then they were attached to a 28-foot tall wall.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Slusser |first=Thomas |date=2022-06-17 |title=Steve Ditko Spider-man mural completed in downtown Johnstown |url=https://www.tribdem.com/news/steve-ditko-spider-man-mural-completed-in-downtown-johnstown/image_4b1ce202-ee7c-11ec-9ac6-73998f372236.html |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=The Tribune-Democrat |language=en |archive-date=May 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240505004009/https://www.tribdem.com/news/steve-ditko-spider-man-mural-completed-in-downtown-johnstown/image_4b1ce202-ee7c-11ec-9ac6-73998f372236.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Ditko was honored as a [[Disney Legend]] for his contributions to Marvel, and by extension [[the Walt Disney Company]], at the 2024 [[D23 Expo]].<ref>{{cite web |title= Meet the 2024 Class of Disney Legends |url= https://d23.com/disney-legends-2024/?fbclid=PAAaZno4whE7iluxSvOtOG6BMlx2awvycsPUAEQB4iAEWhLs87V2fAhN5DTB8_aem_ASBHyJ37BKZwY3gafpLfHaWAnovIp1feqjEDE7j1RnHSkDhFqXvGUiywBzQcFtdrHeA |date= March 19, 2024 |access-date= March 19, 2024 |website= [[D23 (Disney)|D23]] |archive-date= May 26, 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240526034912/https://d23.com/disney-legends-2024/ |url-status= live }}</ref>