Disney hit with $10 billion lawsuit for allegedly plagiarizing ‘Moana’
This image released by Disney shows the character Moana, voiced by Auli’i Cravalho, center, in a scene from “Moana 2.” The Walt Disney Co. has been hit with a $10 billion copyright lawsuit by an animator who alleges in federal court that the Burbank company’s popular “Moana” franchise was largely plagiarized from his decades-old screenplay. FILE PHOTO (Disney via AP)
LOS ANGELES – The Walt Disney Co. has been hit with a $10 billion copyright lawsuit by an animator who alleges in federal court that the Burbank company’s popular “Moana” franchise was largely plagiarized from his decades-old screenplay, according to court papers obtained this week.
Buck Woodall alleges that ex-Mandeville Films development director Jenny Marchick secretly handed Disney materials he produced privately for her two decades ago, and the company used elements of the work for its “Moana” and “Moana 2” projects without permission, according to the 33-page suit filed Friday in LA federal court.
A Disney representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The complaint contends Marchick operated a “fraudulent enterprise that encompassed the theft, misappropriation, and extensive exploitation of Woodall’s copyrighted materials.”
The suit says Mandeville had a deal with Disney, as well as offices on Disney’s lot at the time of Marchick’s alleged association with Woodall.
The animator claims he gave Marchick a large amount of “intellectual property and trade secrets” — including a screenplay and an animated trailer — related to a Polynesian-themed project then known as “Bucky” between 2003. and 2008. Woodall claims he received copyright protection on the materials in 2004 and 2014.
According to Woodall, “Bucky” was appropriated by Disney for “Moana” and its sequel “Moana 2” without his approval.
The lawsuit seeks 2.5% of “Moana’s” profits, about $10 billion, and a court order affirming his copyright and barring further infringement. (CNS)
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