A Los Angeles jury decided on March 10, 2025, that Disney did not steal the idea for its 2016 animated movie Moana. The decision came after a two-week trial where Buck Woodall, a writer and animator,

The Disney brand has an omnipresence matched by few other corporations. And now, in addition to its ubiquitous movies, TV shows and merch, you’ll also hear about all the lawsuits it’s entangled in. The legal drama is almost overshadowing tantalising details about a highly-anticipated franchise sequel.

Buck Woodall's five-year battle with Disney over who really created Moana looks to have come to an end today with a Los Angeles jury finding for the House of Mouse in the animated franchise dispute, for now.