Buck G. Woodall v. The Walt Disney Company

  1. March 03, 2025

    Film Exec Testifies She Felt 'Set Up' By 'Moana' IP Claims

    A movie executive told a California federal jury on Monday that she never shared a distant family member's script with The Walt Disney Co., and that she later felt "set up" and pressured to lie for this relative's copyright suit over the blockbuster animated film "Moana."

  2. February 28, 2025

    'Moana' IP Theft Accuser Forged Evidence, Jury Hears

    Counsel for a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Co. sought during cross-examination Friday to undercut the credibility of an artist claiming "Moana" ripped off his work, pointing out that the plaintiff doctored a key document in the case and offered money to potential witnesses.

  3. February 27, 2025

    Artist Immediately Knew 'Moana' Was A Ripoff, Jury Hears

    An artist testified in California federal court Thursday that he was "shocked" upon taking his stepson to see "Moana" in a movie theater in 2016, saying he was certain the first time he saw the blockbuster film that The Walt Disney Co. had copied his own animated work.

  4. February 26, 2025

    Disney Pilfered Animator's 'Life Work' For 'Moana,' Jury Told

    Counsel for an animation artist told jurors on the first day of a California federal court trial Wednesday that The Walt Disney Co. stole his magnum opus to develop the blockbuster movie "Moana" without a penny of compensation.

  5. January 13, 2025

    'Moana 2' Spurs New Copyright Suit From Aggrieved Animator

    The Walt Disney Co.'s release of box office juggernaut "Moana 2" has added another front to its long-running copyright battle with an animator, who has filed suit in California federal court alleging the second franchise installment continues to rip off his Polynesian adventure epic.

  6. September 27, 2024

    Disney Calls Writer's 'Moana' Copyright Theft Suit Pure Fiction

    Lawyers for The Walt Disney Co. urged a California federal judge Friday to throw out an animator and writer's lawsuit alleging the company stole his ideas for the hit movie "Moana," saying there's not a single piece of evidence meriting a jury trial.