Disney was exonerated of copyright infringement in the “Moana” lawsuit

Disney has been exonerated of copyright violations in a case involving the animated movie “Moana.”

Following a two-week trial in federal court, a Los Angeles jury returned a verdict in favor of the entertainment behemoth on Monday, prompting the action.

The case was launched in 2020 by New Mexico-based screenwriter Buck Woodall, who claimed that “Moana” was based on his work, “Bucky the Wave Warrior.”

Disney was denied access to Woodall’s 2011 script and previous treatments, according to a unanimous decision from an eight-member jury.

Jurors concluded that access had not been established after fewer than three hours of deliberation, therefore it was not required to decide whether the two works were substantially comparable.

According to Buck, both concepts focused on young people who disobey their parents and set out on risky adventures to rescue a Polynesian island.

Other parallels he mentioned were surviving a storm at sea, having a tattooed demigod, and celestial navigation.

Buck claims that in 2004, he presented the idea to his sister-in-law’s stepsister, who was working as an assistant at a live-action production firm on the Disney property at the time.

Later, when the assistant asked if Walt Disney Animation Studios would consider a submission, she was told that they wouldn’t.

Disney maintained that there was no proof connecting Buck’s work to the filmmakers and that “Moana” was independently conceived years later.

“Bucky is white; Moana is Oceanian,” the company’s legal team stated in a motion, highlighting significant distinctions between the two works. Moana is native to the made-up island of Motunui, while Bucky comes from the U.S. mainland.

Moana lives thousands of years ago, whereas Bucky lives in the present. Moana is the future leader of her people, whereas Bucky is just a typical teenager. While Moana aspires to carry on her people’s illustrious legacy as the world’s best ocean explorers, Bucky wants to learn how to surf.

Since the movie came out in 2016, a judge decided in November that the majority of Buck’s claims were barred by the statute of limitations.

However, because of the 2017 DVD release, a claim against Disney’s home video subsidiary, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, was permitted to move forward.

Disney’s attorneys chose not to comment after the verdict was rendered.

“Disappointed,” according to Buck’s attorney, he would weigh his client’s options.

In January of this year, Buck also filed a separate action, which is still pending, arguing that “Moana 2” violates his rights.