In a wink to comic book fans, a US Supreme Court justice has tucked several superhero references into a ruling involving a Spider-Man toy.

The court decided in favour of entertainment company Marvel in its legal battle with the inventor of a web-shooting toy, Stephen Kimble, over royalty payments for expired patents.

"With great power there must also come - great responsibility," wrote Justice Elena Kagan, referencing a famous line from the comics.

The case was decided in a 6-3 ruling.

Justice Kagan

At issue was whether Marvel should have continued paying royalties to the toy's inventor after a patent on the toy expired in 2010.

Mr Kimble sold a patent on the toy to the entertainment company in 2001, with an agreement that he would receive royalty payments.

Once the patent expired, Marvel stopped payments, citing the high court's ruling in the 1964 case known as Brulotte v Thys Co.