Avatar 2 Accused of Plagiarizing an Animator’s Work, James Cameron and Disney Sued for Rp8.3 Trillion

Avatar 2 (Doc. Ist)

SecondUpdate.com – Ahead of the release of the latest Avatar film, Avatar: Fire and Ash, Disney and director James Cameron are instead facing legal trouble.

The previous sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, has been sued over allegations that it plagiarized a science-fiction work created by an animator named Eric Ryder.

Ryder filed the lawsuit in a California federal court. He argues that several key elements in Avatar 2 closely resemble his own science-fiction story titled KRZ, which he has been developing since the late 1990s.

According to Ryder, he previously collaborated with Lightstorm Entertainment, James Cameron’s production company, to develop the story concept. He claims that various ideas from KRZ later reappeared in Avatar: The Way of Water without his permission.

“This lawsuit is not an attempt to relitigate previous claims. It is a response to new acts of plagiarism that occurred for the first time in Avatar 2,” the lawsuit states.

Among the similarities being disputed are the presence of anthropomorphic creatures living in vast aquatic environments, a storyline centered on the ocean, and the depiction of an Earth-based corporation that destructively exploits natural resources.

In KRZ, the mining activities take place on a moon called Europa, which orbits a gas giant planet.

In addition, Ryder highlights similarities in the plot involving the extraction of substances from living beings that can extend human life. This element is considered a central part of the conflict and is viewed as playing a crucial role in both works.

Notably, this is not the first time Ryder has sued James Cameron. In 2011, he filed a similar lawsuit against the first Avatar film. However, the court dismissed the case at the time, ruling that James Cameron had developed the Avatar concept before Ryder submitted his work.

Nevertheless, Ryder’s legal team insists that this lawsuit is different. They argue that the alleged new acts of plagiarism appear specifically in Avatar 2, not in the original film.

Through his attorney, Daniel Saunders, Ryder describes the actions of Disney and James Cameron as blatant appropriation of creative work. He asserts that the massive success of Avatar 2 should not have been achieved by violating another party’s copyright.

In the lawsuit, Ryder is seeking damages of US$500 million, equivalent to approximately Rp8.3 trillion. In addition, he is asking the court to issue an order that could delay or block the release of Avatar: Fire and Ash.

For reference, Avatar: Fire and Ash is scheduled to premiere in the United States on December 19. As of now, neither Disney nor James Cameron has issued an official statement regarding the lawsuit.