Source: The Independent

Disney is facing a new legal dispute related to its hit film “Moana 2”; as animator Buck Woodall has filed a lawsuit in a California federal court, accusing the company of plagiarizing elements of his 2003 registered screenplay titled “Bucky.” The suit, filed on January 10, seeks damages of $10 billion or 2.5% of the franchise’s gross revenues.

Woodall also claims that his script describes a Polynesian village where a teenage girl embarks on a journey to break a curse, encountering spirit animals and a demigod, elements he considers similar to the plot of “Moana”. In addition, he mentions that both stories begin with scenes involving turtles and ocean portals in the form of a whirlpool. These statements highlight the need to analyze the originality and creativity of works in the context of intellectual property, where the use of similar ideas and concepts can give rise to legal disputes.

It should be recalled that Woodall had already tried to sue Disney after the release of “Moana ” in 2016, but her case was dismissed by a judge, who considered it untimely. However, the release of the sequel has granted him a new opportunity to take his case to court. This highlights the importance of deadlines in copyright claims and how time can influence an author’s ability to enforce his rights.

For his part, “Moana” director Ron Clements has denied the allegations, stating that “Moana” was not inspired by, nor based on, the “Bucky” project. This defense underscores the complexity of proving plagiarism in the field of intellectual property, where it is essential to establish a clear connection between the work being sued and the allegedly infringed work. In this sense, the burden of proof falls on the plaintiff, who must demonstrate that there are substantial similarities and that these are not merely coincidences.

As the legal case unfolds, “Moana 2” continues to reap success at the box office, grossing $989.9 million worldwide. This financial performance could be affected if the legal dispute generates a negative perception of the film, especially at a critical time when it is up for nominations in the awards season. The relationship between intellectual property and commercial success is a factor that companies must manage carefully.

As the case progresses, it will be interesting to see how court decisions in this area may influence the future of the film industry and how plagiarism claims are handled in the context of intellectual propert