http://www.latinoreview.com/news/walt-disney-owns-a-piece-of-the-amazing-spider-man-15357

"In July, Sony Pictures will release The Amazing Spiderman. We're excited about the film and expect it will drive significant benefits for Spiderman consumer products.

To that end, we recently completed a transaction with Sony Pictures to simplify our relationship. And then in the deal, we purchased Sony Pictures' participation in Spiderman merchandising, while at the same time, Sony Pictures purchased from us our participation in Spiderman films. This transaction will allow us to control and fully benefit from all Spiderman merchandising activity, while Sony will continue to produce and distribute Spiderman films. We won't be specific about the economics of this 2-way transaction, but we expect it will drive attractive returns for Disney."

Is this a sign of things to come? Do you think Spidey will find his way to the Marvel Studio films? I think this is only step one of the inevitable crossover. :)

@Primmaster64: Is it that far fetched? If Sony and Disney made some sort of agreement to let Spider-Man in on some of the Avengers action, think of the money they'd both make. There'd be no stopping that financial juggernaut. Then you strike a deal with Fox, and you've got X-Men, FF, and Daredevil at your disposal. Disney's got deep pockets. They'd be stupid if they didn't at least attempt it.

@Primmaster64: Not yet, but I think they can potentially get there.

Disney owns all Marvel properties, they're being rented essentially from the other companies who themselves are already contract, not the other way around.

In short, they don't Sony nor Fox's permission for anything. They're simply taking the more economic step of letting other companies handle making some of their properties movies so they both don't have to spend the finance themselves, and they have the advantage over a certain other company that own a rival comic book house in that they can get more characters on film due to not being alone in their ventures. Likewise they reap profit without spending much, and if the movie tanks it's on the other companies head financially, and the ball always in Disney's court. Not to dismiss the fact that most of these news stories do is that both Fox and Sony owe Disney right now due to losing lawsuits in the past, hence a good reason to cut them in on this. Trust me if Sony had it there way they wouldn't have Disney sticking it's puffy white gloved fingers that deep into the pie, but alas they don't have a choice. The legal red tape only actually crosses between other companies using Disney's properties (Sony/Fox/Lionsgate for example), not Disney/Marvel themselves.