While the latest ‘Moana 2’ film has largely been in the headlines for breaking box-office records, the Walt Disney Company is now facing a lawsuit saying elements of the film constituted idea theft, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
New “Moana 2” Lawsuit
In a lawsuit filed January 10 in California federal court, animator Buck Woodall has claimed Disney stole ideas from his copyrighted screenplay, titled “Bucky,” and used them in both “Moana” films. The lawsuit claims both works include themes of teenagers defying their parents to go on a voyage to save their home and characters being guided by spirits manifesting as animals. Additional similarities include a demigod adorned with a giant hook and tattoos, a plot involving an important necklace, and a giant creature hiding within a mountain.
The court originally ruled in November that it was too late for Woodall to file a copyright lawsuit for the first “Moana” film. However, the more recent release of “Moana 2” allowed Woodall to initiate further legal action on his case.
According to the suit, Woodall provided his “Bucky” screenplay and an animated trailer for the film to Jenny Marchick in 2003. Marchick is now DreamWorks Animation’s head of development for features, but in 2003 she worked as the director of development for Mandeville Films. At the time, Mandeville had a first-look deal with Disney and offices located on Disney facilities in Burbank. A first-look deal allows Disney the exclusive right to review and potentially produce any new film projects Mandeville develops before the films can be pitched to other studios.
The court did conclude that an individual at Disney Animation may have seen copyrighted materials for “Bucky” prior to the beginning of development for “Moana.” However, a jury will be deciding if the two works are substantially similar to the point of warranting a claim. Disney has further contested the allegations and asserts no one involved in the production of “Moana” ever viewed Woodall’s materials.
Woodall currently seeks damages equaling 2.5 percent of gross revenue from “Moana,” which would be approximately $10 billion.
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