Disney and Universal Take Legal Action Against Midjourney: A Landmark Lawsuit Over AI Art and Copyright Infringement

LOS ANGELES — Major film studios Disney and Universal are taking a stand against artificial intelligence by filing a lawsuit against AI image generator Midjourney. The suit, lodged in June, accuses the company of illegally creating and distributing copies of their beloved characters, an action the studios claim undermines their intellectual property rights. The lawsuit comes amidst an evolving landscape surrounding AI technology and its intersection with creative arts, marking a significant moment as these Hollywood giants confront the implications of generative AI. Disney and Universal’s complaint spans a hefty 110 pages and suggests that … Read more

Helen Pak Takes the Helm as Jury Chair for Cresta Awards 2025: A New Era of Creative Innovation at Disney and Beyond

LONDON, UK – The Cresta Awards has appointed Helen Pak as the Jury Chair for its 2025 awards season, marking a significant step in prioritizing creative innovation within the advertising industry. Pak, who currently serves as Senior Vice President of Creative for Marketing, Design, and Content at Disney, brings a wealth of experience to the role, having impacted diverse fields from theme parks to strategic brand partnerships. At Disney, Pak leads the in-house creative agency, Yellow Shoes, guiding projects that effectively fuse storytelling with business strategy. Her work has resonated with varied audiences across multiple … Read more

Disney Triumphs in Court: Jury Clears ‘Moana’ of Copyright Infringement Claims

Los Angeles, California – Disney has successfully defended itself against allegations that its popular film “Moana” borrowed creative content without permission. On Monday, a federal jury decisively ruled that Disney did not have access to the material of Buck Woodall, who had claimed his project “Bucky the Surfer Boy” was the inspiration for the 2016 blockbuster. Woodall’s lawsuit, first filed in 2020, sought $100 million in damages. He asserted that in 2004, he shared his story outline with Jenny Marchick, a representative at Mandeville Films. Mandeville, which was operating under a first-look deal with Disney … Read more

Disney Faces Multi-Billion Dollar Copyright Lawsuit Over Alleged Theft of ‘Moana’ Franchise Ideas

LOS ANGELES — A copyright lawsuit filed last week explosively alleges that Disney’s acclaimed “Moana” series, which features a daring Polynesian heroine and became a box office triumph, largely draws from a screenplay penned two decades ago that was never developed. Buck Woodall, an animator, claims his creative work was used without his authorization to conceive both “Moana” and its sequel. According to the legal documentation, Woodall accuses Jenny Marchick, a former executive at Mandeville Films and now a senior official at DreamWorks Animation, of clandestinely submitting his screenplay and other materials to Disney. These … Read more