Disney Faces Copyright Infringement Lawsuit for 'Zootopia' from Acclaimed Producer and Screenwriter

Veteran screenwriter Gary Goldman accused Disney of stealing his idea in the "Zootopia." The acclaimed screenwriter, director, and producer filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday.

Goldman claimed that Disney stole his project, which he developed in 2000 as reported by Variety. He alleged the animation studio ripped off his character designs, lines of dialogue, themes and even the name of the city "Zootopia" for the movie. He filed the complaint Tuesday, March 21 to the Federal Court of California Central.

The 72-year-old animator, screenwriter said that he pitched the movie "Zootopia" to Disney in 2000 and 2009. The project was a franchise of movies and TV programs that combined the animated character and live-action component as reported by Los Angeles Times. Disney rejected the idea, but later in the studio stole his idea and made its own movie based on the idea.

He also alleged that Disney has the culture of stealing other people's copyright. Therefore, instead of contacting him to develop the movie "Zootopia" with him, the studio decided to steal his idea. He said in his allegation that the action was "consistent with their culture of unauthorized copying”

Goldman worked for Disney in the beginning of his career as an animator in 1972. He worked for seven years in the company before resigned in 1979 with his two co-workers and established their own independent studio Don Bluth Productions. He made many successful movies including the animation film "Anastasia" and "Titan AE," also"Total Recall" and "Minority Report."

In respond to his allegations, Disney issued a statement saying his lawsuit is a false patent allegations. The studio accused him of trying to claim success on the movie "Zootopia" that he didn't create, and vowed to defend his allegation vigorously in court.

Watch the report from New York Daily News regarding Goldman allegation that Disney stole his idea for "Zootopia" below: