The Walt Disney Company is embroiled in a legal dispute with VFX company Rearden, which alleges that Marvel, a subsidiary of Disney, unlawfully used its patented MOVA technology to animate major characters in the Avengers movies. While a federal judge dismissed a portion of the case against Marvel, the matter is far from over.
Rearden claims that DD3, a company Disney collaborated with for VFX in hit films like Guardians of the Galaxy and Beauty and the Beast, lacked ownership of the MOVA Contour Reality Capture technology it utilized in movies like Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. This technology was purportedly used to animate iconic Marvel characters like The Incredible Hulk.
Despite the dismissal of part of the case against Marvel due to insufficient evidence, the court has granted Rearden an opportunity to amend its claim. The judge emphasized that Rearden must provide detailed evidence to support its allegations of copyright infringement by Marvel.
If Rearden successfully substantiates its claims, Disney could face significant financial repercussions. Potential damages could include relinquishing a substantial portion of earnings from the Avengers movies, which collectively grossed over $6 billion worldwide. Moreover, Marvel’s reputation may suffer, particularly as the studio navigates challenges with recent box office releases.
