The answer: Yes.
It seems the heirs of Superman co-creator have are the beneficiaries of a court decision that, as I see it, gives them the power to take their Kryptonian and go home, leaving DC Comics without its flagship character:
What does this all mean? The Siegels now own the rights to most of Superman’s origin that we are familiar with from the comics and the Donnverse. This includes; Superman’s Kryptonian parents, infant Kal-El, the explosion of Krypton, the infant Kal-El being sent from Krypton in a ship, and infant Kal-El crash landing on earth. This is in addition to their ownership of Action Comics #1 which was awarded to the Siegels in 2008. That previous ruling allows them rights to reporter Clark Kent, reporter Lois Lane, their jobs at the Daily Planet working for an obsessive editor, and the romantic dynamic between Lois, Clark, and Superman.
DC still owns some other elements including; Superman’s flying ability and other powers, additional origin elements, Kryptonite, Jimmy Olsen, and Lex Luthor. Warner Bros and DC Comics seem to be staying even keel in regards to the outcome so far.
Oh, believe me, they are worried. Sure, D.C. could toss a boat-load of money at the Siegels. But remember, D.C. Comics spent several decades treating the creators of the Greatest Comic Book Character of All Time like pieces of garbage, stopping occasionally to toss spare change at them when the publicity got too bad.
I were the Siegels, I’d tell D.C. Comics to take flying leap, and shop the Superman character to Marvel. DC likes to reboot it’s universe every five years. Consider this the ultimate reboot.
DC might end up doing comics about Jimmy and Lex Luther flying around the Fortress of Solitude, throwing Kryptonite rocks at each other.
I’m not sure a move to Marvel would be a good idea though. First would be the introduction of him into the marvel universe, would he fit in there without changing his personality/morality. Secondly, can they give Superman flight powers without infringing on DC? If not, is he Superman anymore.
On a note that may be positive / negative would be hopefully a new rogues gallery for him.
The plus side might be a new superman movie that might be good.
At one time, it would be unthinkable. But the “house styles” at DC and Marvel are almost interchangeable now.
But I think the most artistic solution would be to put Superman in his own universe, with NO interaction with other Marvel characters. This would help return a level of mystique to the character, which was originally that of a Christ-like man from the future who had the unique powers he did. These days, there are a hundred of character exactly like him