Holy copyright law, Batman!

This month has seen its fair share of headlines involving automakers, but you may have missed the news that a court has decided that the Batmobile — the iconic vehicle belonging to comic-book-hero Batman — is sufficiently distinctive to be deemed a character itself.

In the latest twist in long-running copyright dispute, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena, California, last week ruled that a garage that produces replicas of the Caped Crusader’s self-powered, crime fighting vehicle has infringed upon D.C. Comic’s copyright.

Gotham Garage, operated by Mark Towle, produces replicas of the Batmobile from the 1966 television series and 1989 Batman movie.

The cars retail for about $90,000, according to Variety magazine

The appeals court upheld an earlier decision that the cars violate the copyright of DC Comics, which is the publisher and copyright owner of the comic books featuring Batman.

In her opinion handed down last week, Judge Sandra S. Ikuta said that Mr. Towle, in producing replicas of the famed vehicle, had infringed DC Comics’ copyright because the Batmobile has an “especially distinct” character.

In summing up, Judge Ituka could not resist quoting Batman’s trusty sidekick, Robin.

“As Batman so sagely told Robin: ‘In our well-ordered society, protection of private property is essential,’” she wrote.