*

DeLorean trademark owner accused NBCU of underpaying

royalties

*

Judge last month rejected NBCU's bid to end case before

trial

(Adds comment from DeLorean in paragraph 3)

By Blake Brittain

March 27 (Reuters) - NBCUniversal has

settled a trademark lawsuit over its continued use of the

classic DeLorean car from "Back to the Future" on merchandise

and tie-ins for the blockbuster film series, according to a

filing in California federal court.

NBCU and DeLorean trademark owner DeLorean Motor Co told the

U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on

Tuesday that they had fully resolved their dispute.

DeLorean attorney Roger Behle of Foley Bezek Behle & Curtis

said on Wednesday that the settlement's terms were confidential,

but "you will continue to see DeLorean cars and trademarks

featured in Back To The Future merchandise in the future."

Representatives for NBCU did not immediately respond to

a request for comment and more details about the settlement on

Wednesday.

The DeLorean DMC-12 sports car famously served as the time

machine in the "Back to the Future" franchise. Universal and

Amblin Entertainment signed an agreement with DeLorean maker

John DeLorean that allowed them to use DeLorean trademarks for

"merchandising and commercial tie-ups" in exchange for 5% of

revenue from them, according to the lawsuit.

The original DeLorean Motor Co went bankrupt in 1982.

Houston, Texas-based car restorer Stephen Wynne bought

DeLorean's assets in 1997, and NBCU began paying royalties to

Wynne's company, which also calls itself DeLorean Motor Co, in

2020.

Wynne's company sued NBCU in 2022, accusing it of failing to

pay the full amount of royalties owed under the contract. The

lawsuit cited the DeLorean's appearances in the film "Ready

Player One," at Universal Studios theme parks, and on

merchandise including toys, posters and lunch boxes.

U.S. District Judge David Carter denied NBCU's bid to end

the case last month and said that DeLorean may have been able to

show at trial that NBCU infringed its trademarks. Carter also

rejected DeLorean's breach-of-contract claim, determining that

DeLorean's estate had not transferred the contract to Wynne's

company.

The case is DeLorean Motor Co v. NBCUniversal Media LLC,

U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, No.

8:22-cv-02189.

For NBCU: Andrew Thomas and Todd Toral of Jenner & Block

For DeLorean: Roger Behle of Foley Bezek Behle & Curtis

Read more:

NBCUniversal must face DeLorean trademark trial over 'Back

to the Future' merchandise

(Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington)