Court rules 'Moana' an original creation, but sequel faces ongoing legal challenge

Disney has secured a legal victory in a five-year copyright dispute over the origins of its hit animated film Moana. According to ANI, a Los Angeles jury ruled in favor of Disney, concluding that the film’s creators, John Musker and Ron Clements, had no prior knowledge of Buck Woodall’s work, Bucky the Surfer Boy, while developing the 2016 film. The verdict dismissed Woodall’s allegations that Disney had taken inspiration from his story, which featured a Hawaii setting and Polynesian mythological themes. The ruling reinforces Disney’s stance that Moana is an entirely original creation.
However, the legal battle is far from over. Woodall is pursuing a separate lawsuit against Disney over alleged copyright infringement concerning Moana 2, which has grossed over $1 billion worldwide. His complaint asserts that his distant relative, Jenny Marchick, formerly associated with Mandeville Films shared his copyrighted material with Disney, influencing the development of Moana. Woodall’s legal team expressed disappointment in the jury’s decision and is exploring further legal remedies.
The new lawsuit, which was filed earlier this year, seeks $10 billion in damages equivalent to 2.5% of Moana 2’s global revenue. It accuses Marchick and other Disney associates of conspiring to steal Woodall’s intellectual property for personal and professional gain. Marchick, who currently leads development at DreamWorks Animation, has denied any involvement. During her testimony, she stated that she did not recall sharing Woodall’s work with anyone at Disney, though she had facilitated an interview for him with a Disney Channel animator, which did not lead to employment.
While the jury’s decision settles the copyright dispute over the original Moana film, the legal battle over Moana 2 remains unresolved. No trial date has been set, but legal experts anticipate that Disney will move to dismiss the case based on its recent courtroom victory.