A federal jury of Los Angeles has ruled against the statements of a man of copyright infringement about Disney animated film Moana.
The verdict was announced on Monday after a two -week trial in a federal court.
A jury of eight members unanimously ruled that Disney did not have access to Buck Woodall script 2011 Bucky The Wave Warrior or previous treatments, AP news reported.
For those not versed, Woodall filed the lawsuit in 2020, claiming both copyright violation projects, since they focused on adolescents that challenge their parents to embark on dangerous trips to save a Polynesian island.
He also cited other similarities, including heavenly navigation, a tattooed demigod and surviving a storm in the sea.
His presentation declared that he had presented the story in 2004 to the sister -in -law of his sister -in -law, who was then an assistant to a live action production company in Disney Lot.
Later, the assistant asked if Walt Disney Animation Studios would accept a presentation, but he was informed that he would not.
Disney defended that Moana developed independently years later and no evidence linked Buck with the filmmakers.
“Bucky is Blanco; Moana is Oceanian. Bucky is from the United States; Moana is indigenous of Motunui’s fictional island,” the legal team of the entertainment company argued in a motion.
“Bucky lives today; Moana lives millennia in the past. Bucky is a common teenager; Moana is the future chief of her people. Bucky wants to learn to surf, while Moana wants to continue the proud story of her people as the best oceanic travelers that the world has known.”
Buck’s lawyer has said he would consider his client’s options.
However, Buck also filed a separate lawsuit in January this year, claiming Moana 2 Infringe in your work. The case is still pending.
