On March 10, 2025, a federal jury in Los Angeles ruled in favor of The Walt Disney Company, concluding that the 2016 animated film “Moana” did not infringe upon the copyrights of animator Buck Woodall.
Woodall alleged that Disney’s “Moana” bore significant similarities to his project “Bucky the Surfer Boy,” for which he had created scripts and storyboards in the early 2000s. He claimed to have shared these materials with Jenny Marchick, a development executive at Mandeville Films, a company associated with Disney at the time. Woodall sought $100 million in damages, asserting that Disney had access to and copied his work.
After approximately two and a half hours of deliberation, the jury determined that the creators of “Moana” did not have access to Woodall’s materials. This finding rendered any assessment of similarities between the two works unnecessary. Marchick testified that she did not share Woodall’s submissions with anyone at Disney, and evidence presented indicated that Disney’s animation studio did not accept unsolicited pitches.
Disney’s legal team argued that the elements cited by Woodall, such as Polynesian lore and common literary themes, were not subject to copyright protection. They presented extensive documentation detailing the independent development process of “Moana” by directors John Musker and Ron Clements, who were reportedly unaware of Woodall’s project.
Following the verdict, Woodall’s attorney, Gustavo Lage, expressed disappointment and indicated plans to review potential legal remedies. Woodall has also filed a separate lawsuit against Disney concerning the sequel to “Moana,” released in November 2024, seeking at least $10 billion in damages.
This case underscores the complexities inherent in copyright law, particularly within the entertainment industry, where distinguishing between inspiration and infringement necessitates careful legal scrutiny.
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