The legal wrangle relates to the sale of merchandise in the UK featuring animation's first leading lady.
As a judge announced his decision in the first part of the case on Tuesday, the image of the curvaceous cartoon character - known for her "boop oop a doop" catchphrase - graced the pages of his lengthy written ruling.
Justice Birss ruled in favour of Hearst Holdings and US-based Fleischer Studios in a trademark and "passing off" action.
The judge said their case was that they are the successors of the originator of the Betty Boop character, first shown in 1930s America, and are the "only legitimate source of Betty Boop 'imagery' in the UK".
The action was against five defendants, including Avela Inc - whose business is licensing brands and artwork for use on merchandise and who contended it was also a legitimate source of Betty Boop imagery in the UK - and Avela's UK licensing agent, The Partnership (Trading) Limited.
The defendants denied committing acts of trade mark infringement and passing off, but Justice Birss found the two claimants had "proved" their case against Avela and other defendants who sell Betty Boop merchandise in the UK, including to major retailers such as Tesco, Matalan, Primark and Argos.
The decision comes after Fleischer Studios, which was founded by the family of Betty's creator Max Fleischer, lost a similar battle against Avela in the US.
Announcing his conclusions in the UK litigation, Justice Birss said by 2006 the claimants had been working for 20 years to build up sales of Betty Boop merchandise in the UK.
Annual worldwide retail sales of such merchandise in 2006, all licensed by the claimants, were worth $US280 million ($A311.44 million) - in that year the UK retail sales were worth $US24 million.
The judge said: "It is plain on the evidence that for about 20 years in the UK the claimants have been the sole source of Betty Boop merchandise. There was no other realistic source until Avela came along."
Tuesday's decision is not the end of the case in the UK, as a claim for alleged copyright infringement is to be tried in January next year.
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