TomH1138 said:
Based on the heavy current usage of the character, I thought that he was already in the public domain. Two TV series and a movie franchise -- that's a lot for one character at one time.
I doubt the Doyle estate made/makes much if any money off those franchises, because they were probably living in fear of super well-funded lawyers making exactly this argument at them. So sure, they might get a few checks, but nothing like what you'd need to license a Batman or something.
No, the estate was probably making its most consistent money from lots of small business with modest publishing projects like this one, only now they got called on it and lost a round in court. Good.