Disney and James Cameron Sued for Copyright Infringement Over "Avatar: The Way of Water"

On December 16, 2025, a federal lawsuit was filed against Disney and director James Cameron in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California by Eric Ryder, a 3-D animator. Ryder alleges that Cameron copied elements from his science fiction story "KRZ" in the 2022 film "Avatar: The Way of Water." The lawsuit claims that Ryder collaborated with Cameron's Lightstorm Entertainment in the late 1990s to develop a film based on "KRZ." Ryder is seeking at least $500 million in damages and a court order to block the release of the upcoming third "Avatar" film, "Fire and Ash."

ReutersSecond ‘Avatar’ Copied More Than Original, Writer’s Suit Says

Ryder's complaint asserts that "Avatar: The Way of Water" includes significant similarities to "KRZ," particularly in its portrayal of "anthropomorphic beings," an oceanic setting, and a corporation engaged in environmentally harmful mining operations on a moon of a gas giant planet. The lawsuit highlights a specific plot point involving the harvesting of an animal-based substance that extends human life, which Ryder claims is central to the narrative of "The Way of Water" and was not present in the first "Avatar" film.

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This is not Ryder's first legal action against Cameron. In 2011, he filed a similar lawsuit regarding the original "Avatar," which was dismissed by a California state court. The court found that Cameron had created "Avatar" before Ryder submitted his story to Lightstorm. However, Ryder's current lawsuit emphasizes that it does not seek to relitigate those earlier claims but instead addresses new instances of alleged copying that occurred in "Avatar: The Way of Water."

ReutersSecond ‘Avatar’ Copied More Than Original, Writer’s Suit Says

Ryder's attorney, Daniel Saunders, characterized the alleged actions of Cameron and Disney as "blatant and egregious," asserting that they misappropriated Ryder's creative work to produce one of the highest-grossing films of all time. As of now, representatives for Disney and Lightstorm Entertainment have not provided comments regarding the lawsuit.

Reuters

While the lawsuit presents a serious claim of copyright infringement, it is important to note that the legal landscape surrounding copyright in creative works is complex. Critics of Ryder's claims may argue that the similarities cited are common tropes in science fiction and do not constitute copyright infringement. Additionally, the previous dismissal of Ryder's earlier lawsuit could be leveraged to question the validity of his current claims.

Second ‘Avatar’ Copied More Than Original, Writer’s Suit Says

The case, identified as Ryder v. Cameron, No. 2:25-cv-11854, will proceed in federal court, where the outcome could have significant implications for the "Avatar" franchise and the broader film industry regarding copyright protections for creative works. The upcoming release of "Fire and Ash" may also be impacted depending on the court's rulings.

Reuters