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Los Angeles: On May 5 a California complaint was filed by actress Q'orianka Kilcher alleging that filmmaker James Cameron and The Walt Disney Company used her facial features without consent to create the Avatar character Neytiri. The filing, reported this week, names Lightstorm Entertainment and multiple visual-effects vendors and cites a 2005 photograph as the alleged source. The complaint states the alleged reproduction occurred through production sketches, 3D maquettes and laser-scanned digital models and asserts the plaintiff never consented to the use of her likeness. This week media outlets published the documents and Kilcher’s statement; the case will proceed through California courts with defendants expected to respond and with discovery likely to examine production materials and design records.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.