Disney wins $10 billion copyright lawsuit over 'Moana'

A federal court in California has ruled in favor of Disney in a long-running copyright case over its hit animated film Moana. On Monday, March 10, the jury rejected claims made by writer and animator Buck Woodall, who accused Disney of stealing ideas from his planned animated movie Bucky, and the latter won the lawsuit of $10 billion.

Woodall had alleged that Moana copied elements from his script, storyboards, and overall concept. However, Disney’s lawyers argued that the creators of Moana had never seen Woodall’s materials, and the two films were not similar enough to support a copyright violation claim.

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No evidence of copying, says Disney

Woodall’s lawyer, Gustavo Lodge, expressed disappointment in the verdict and said they are considering further legal steps. The lawsuit had been ongoing for five years, making it a major legal battle for Disney.

The case centered around the claim that Moana had "substantial" similarities to Bucky the Wave Warrior, a story written by Woodall. However, Disney’s legal team countered these claims by pointing out significant differences between the two stories.

Disney’s lawyers highlighted how Moana and Bucky were vastly different:

• Bucky is a white teenage boy from the mainland U.S., while Moana is a young Oceanian girl from the fictional island of Motunui.
• Bucky lives in the modern era, but Moana takes place thousands of years in the past.
• Bucky is an ordinary teen who wants to learn surfing, whereas Moana is the future leader of her people, seeking to revive their seafaring traditions.

One of Woodall’s main arguments was that he had pitched Bucky to a relative who worked at Mandeville Films, a production company based on the Disney lot. However, Disney maintained that there was no proof that its filmmakers ever had access to Bucky's story.

On March 10, the jury ruled in Disney’s favor, officially clearing the company of any wrongdoing.

The case is now closed, but Woodall’s legal team may still explore other options. For now, Disney has secured a significant legal victory, avoiding potential damages that could have reached billions of dollars.

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