Who Owns Myth? Moana, Copyright Law, and the Ethics of Cultural Storytelling
[1] When Disney released Moana in 2016, the film was widely praised for its vibrant animation, infectious music, and celebration of Polynesian heritage. [2] However, beneath its commercial and critical success, Moana stirred debate about the boundaries of cultural appreciation, particularly when myth and folklore become the building blocks of mainstream entertainment. [3] This tension came to the forefront in a lawsuit filed by writer Buck Woodall, who alleged that Disney’s story in...
