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Disney Wins Copyright Dispute Over “Moana”

A federal jury in Los Angeles reached a verdict on Monday, concluding that Disney did not unlawfully appropriate the concept for its acclaimed film “Moana” from animator Buck Woodall.

The jury deliberated for about two and a half hours before determining that, while there were notable similarities between “Moana” and Woodall’s work, “Bucky the Surfer Boy,” Disney did not infringe upon any copyrights. The key reason cited was that none of the individuals involved in creating “Moana” had ever seen or accessed Woodall’s story outlines or screenplay.

Woodall’s claims originated from sharing an outline of “Bucky the Surfer Boy” with Jenny Marchick, who had familial ties to him and was employed by Mandeville Film, a company situated on the Disney lot, back in 2004. Testimony from Marchick, who is now the Head of Development for Features at DreamWorks Animation, confirmed that she had never shared any elements of “Bucky” with Disney, asserting she was “100 percent certain” about this fact, according to Courthouse News Service.

Following the verdict, Woodall’s attorney, Gustavo Lage, expressed disappointment, stating, “Obviously we’re disappointed. We’re going to review our options and think about the best path forward.”

Woodall described his surprise at the striking resemblances between “Moana” and his original tale upon the film’s release in 2016. The two narratives both feature teenage protagonists on oceanic adventures and incorporate elements of Polynesian spirituality, including ancestral figures that transform into animals, a demigod character adorned with tattoos, and a weaponized hook. However, Woodall’s lawsuit, initiated in 2020, was dismissed as being too late for him to claim a share of the $700 million that “Moana” generated at the box office during its initial run.

In court, “Moana” director John Musker refuted Woodall’s allegations, indicating that the creative team drew inspiration from previous Disney classics such as “Hercules” and “The Little Mermaid.” Defense attorney Moez Kaba reinforced this point in his closing arguments, stating, “They had no idea about ‘Bucky.’ They had never seen it, never heard of it.”

Woodall has also initiated a second lawsuit concerning the upcoming sequel, “Moana 2.” This new legal action will be evaluated independently, but given Monday’s outcome, it is anticipated that the resolution might echo that of the first case.

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