Stan Lee Media, Disney continue fight over Marvel superheroes in Denver federal appeals court

Spider-Man, X-Men and The Hulk will loom large in a federal appeals court as Disney battles for the rights to Marvel's iconic comic book characters in a longtime dispute.

A panel of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments Tuesday in an ongoing case involving Colorado-based Stan Lee Media and The Walt Disney Co.

A federal judge last year dismissed a lawsuit in which Stan Lee Media claimed copyright of the characters and sought profits Disney made from movies and merchandise featuring them. Disney bought Marvel in 2009.

Stan Lee Media, which is no longer affiliated with comic book artist Stan Lee, appealed the judge's order. Disney has argued that other courts have already ruled against Stan Lee Media on the same matter.