Posted Monday, August 2, 2010 --- 9:00 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Comic book writer Neil Gaiman has won a federal court battle against artist Todd McFarlane over money owed related to the creation of three characters in the classic Spawn series.

Gaiman argued the three characters were derivative of ones he created and therefore he was owed royalties. McFarlane, who created the original Spawn character in the early 1990s, argued they were not derivative and Gaiman was owed nothing.

U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Crabb ruled last week against McFarlane, saying the characters Dark Ages Spawn, Domina and Tiffany were derivative.

Eight years ago a jury found that Gaiman was due money for being a co-copyright holder for three other characters but neither side has agreed how much is owed.

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