A federal judge ruled on Thursday that Abbott and Costello’s heirs had failed to get past first base with copyright claims against the producers of the Broadway play “Hand to God,” in which a character uses a sock puppet to perform part of the comedians’ “Who’s on First” routine.

The copyright holders sued the producers and promoters of the play and the playwright, Robert Askins, in June, accusing them of copyright infringement.

Judge George Daniels of United States District Court in Manhattan tossed out the lawsuit on Thursday, saying the play transformed the original routine enough that it did not violate copyrights.

Kevin McCollum, lead producer of “Hand to God,” had called the lawsuit “a stunt” and said producers welcomed the attention.