Disney has won a major copyright lawsuit over its 2016 animated hit Moana, with a federal jury in Los Angeles rejecting claims that the studio stole the idea for the film from an independent animator. The decision clears Disney of accusations that it copied key elements from an unproduced project and affirms the originality of the widely beloved movie.
The lawsuit was filed in 2020 by animator Buck Woodall, who alleged that Disney lifted ideas from his decades-old screenplay and story treatments for a project he called Bucky the Surfer Boy. Woodall claimed there were similarities with Moana, such as oceanic journeys, Polynesian settings and mythic themes and argued that his materials had been shared with people connected to Disney.
During the trial, the jury focused on whether Disney’s creative team could have access to Woodall’s work before making Moana. After only about two and a half hours of deliberation, the jurors concluded that the filmmakers behind Moana never had access to Woodall’s screenplay or materials. Because of that finding, the panel did not even need to weigh whether the creative works were substantially similar.
Under U.S. copyright law, proving that a defendant had access to the plaintiff’s work is a critical early hurdle — without access, claims of copying cannot stand even if two works share similar elements. In this case, evidence at trial indicated that while Woodall shared his Bucky materials with a distant relative who once worked near Disney’s offices, there was no credible proof that those materials were ever seen by anyone involved in Disney’s Moana production.
Moana was directed by Disney veterans John Musker and Ron Clements, longtime collaborators whose credits include classics such as The Little Mermaid and Aladdin. Disney’s defense argued that Moana was the result of a documented creative process involving extensive research, development, and world-building rooted in Polynesian culture and mythology, and not derived from any outside script or story.
While Woodall had sought up to $100 million in damages, the jury’s verdict sparing Disney of liability came swiftly — a sign that jurors were unconvinced the claim met the legal standard for infringement. Woodall’s attorney expressed disappointment and said they would consider next steps, but the court’s finding stands as a clear vindication of Disney’s creative independence in this case.
The ruling comes at a time when major entertainment studios increasingly face intellectual property challenges over blockbuster properties, and it highlights how difficult it can be for plaintiffs to succeed in copyright suits without definitive evidence of access and appropriation.
Although this lawsuit is now resolved in Disney’s favor, a separate legal claim related to Moana 2, which was released in November 2024 and expanded the franchise, remains pending in other proceedings.
For now, Disney can continue to celebrate Moana as an original creative work and a box-office and streaming success, free from the cloud of this particular legal challenge.
