A federal jury has ruled in favor of Disney in a copyright lawsuit involving claims that the hit film "Moana" plagiarized ideas from a story titled "Bucky the Surfer Boy." The lawsuit, filed by Buck Woodall, alleged that Disney used his 2003 story as a blueprint for creating "Moana." The jury, after a brief deliberation of approximately 2.5 hours, concluded that Disney had no access to Woodall's script or outlines.
Woodall's attorney, Gustavo Lage, presented arguments highlighting the similarities between "Moana" and "Bucky the Surfer Boy." He emphasized that both stories incorporate Polynesian beliefs and cultural elements. However, Disney's legal representative, Moez Kaba, countered by asserting that such cultural aspects are part of the public domain and not subject to copyright protection.
“They had never seen it, never heard of it.” – Moez Kaba
The jury's decision followed a comprehensive review process where they watched "Moana" and examined Woodall's original 2003 story outline, its 2008 update, and a 2011 script. Woodall claimed that he handed his story outline to Jenny Marchick around 2004. Marchick, who worked with Mandeville Films—an entity with a first-look agreement with Disney—testified that she never shared any of Woodall's materials with anyone at Disney.
Despite the claims, Woodall's script and outlines were never developed into a film. His lawsuit, initially filed in 2020, sought $100 million in damages, with the core of his argument centered around the release of Moana's sequel in November 2024. According to Woodall, both narratives involve a young protagonist embarking on a significant voyage across Polynesian waters with similar thematic and cultural underpinnings.
The legal battle highlighted the ongoing challenges in determining intellectual property rights when stories draw upon common cultural motifs. While Woodall maintained that Disney's narrative bore substantial resemblance to his own, the defense underscored the universality of Polynesian lore as an inspiration.
“Obviously we’re disappointed. We’re going to review our options and think about the best path forward.” – Gustavo Lage
