Disney Wins ‘Moana’ Copyright Case, New Lawsuit Targets ‘Moana 2’ Sequel

March 11, 2025: After a lengthy five-year legal battle, Disney has emerged victorious in a copyright trial related to the origins of its popular animated film Moana. A Los Angeles jury ruled in favor of the entertainment giant, concluding that the film’s primary creators, John Musker and Ron Clements, had no knowledge of Buck Woodall’s earlier work, Bucky the Surfer Boy, while developing Moana.

The case was centered on accusations from Woodall, who alleged that Disney had copied elements of his work, including its Hawaiian setting and Polynesian mythological themes. He also claimed that his distant relative, Jenny Marchick, a former director at Mandeville Films, had shared his copyrighted material with Disney, leading to the creation of Moana. However, the jury found no evidence to support these claims, stating that Musker, Clements, and other key figures involved in Moana had never seen or heard of Woodall’s work.

In response to the verdict, Disney spokespersons expressed their satisfaction, stating, “We are incredibly proud of the collective work that went into making Moana and are pleased that the jury found it had nothing to do with Plaintiff’s works. This decision reinforces our position that Moana is an entirely original creation.”

Woodall’s legal team, however, expressed disappointment, with attorney Gustavo D. Lage saying, “At the present time, we are weighing our options to determine the best path forward regarding the legal remedies available to our client.”

Despite this setback, the legal saga is far from over. Woodall is pursuing a separate lawsuit against Disney over alleged copyright infringement related to Moana 2, the successful sequel to the original film, which has grossed over USD 1 billion globally. Woodall’s new lawsuit claims that Disney knowingly used elements from Bucky the Surfer Boy in the sequel and is demanding a massive USD 10 billion in damages, roughly 2.5% of the sequel’s earnings.

In this new case, Woodall’s legal team alleges a conspiracy involving Marchick and other Disney associates to profit from his intellectual property. Marchick, who now heads development at DreamWorks Animation, has denied any involvement in the alleged theft. During her testimony, Marchick stated that she had no memory of ever sharing Bucky materials with anyone at Disney, despite having received updates from Woodall over the years.

While Disney has won the initial legal battle regarding the original Moana, the fight over the sequel remains ongoing. No trial date has been set for this latest lawsuit, but legal experts predict that Disney may soon seek to have it dismissed, given the favorable verdict in the original case. The legal battles surrounding Moana are likely to continue, and only time will tell if Disney’s victory in the first case will impact the outcome of the ongoing sequel dispute.