US explorers fight Spain for control of treasure

There's no end in sight for the treasure dispute between U.S.-based deep-sea explorers and the Spanish government.

Odyssey Marine Exploration of Tampa, Fla., is battling Spain in federal court over the ownership of an estimated $500 million of coins and other artifacts. The treasure was rescued last year from what is believed to be a 19th-century Spanish shipwreck.

Attorneys for both sides told a federal magistrate judge Monday that they are still exchanging information and may be doing that well into the fall or later.

That means it will be at least next year before the case makes it to trial.

Odyssey found the treasure and believes it is entitled to most of it. But Spain says it still owns the booty and wants Odyssey to return all of it.