Thailand’s Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Japan’s Tsuburaya Productions in its 10-year lawsuit against a Thai businessman who had claimed to hold substantial rights to the Ultraman franchise.

Variety reports that Sompote Saengduenchai was ordered on Tuesday to pay a $350,000 fine plus 7.5 percent annual interest, dating back to Dec. 16, 1997, when the original suit was filed.

Saengduenchai, who was chairman of Tsuburaya Chaiyo Co. Ltd. (also known as Chaiyo Productions), claimed he co-created Ultraman and had signed an agreement with Tsuburaya in 1976 giving him licensing rights to the character outside of Japan. An earlier court ruling seemed to confirm Tsuburaya’s ownership of the franchise while supporting parts of Saengduenchai claim.

The dispute with Saengduenchai stems from a 1974 collaboration on two movies, The 6 Ultra Brothers Vs. the Monster Army and Jumborg Ace & Giant (the latter starred Tsuburaya character Jumborg Ace).

The live-action Ultraman TV series debuted in 1966 on Tokyo Broadcasting System. The concept became a pop-culture phenomenon, spawning numerous television incarnations, movies and merchandise.

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