A U.S. judge has thrown out a copyright lawsuit against Avatar director James Cameron.

Gerald Morawski alleged he gave the filmmaker the idea for his blockbuster about a native tribe clashing with a mining company, insisting he even sold him art concepts that were incorporated into the 2009 movie, which grossed $2.7 billion at the global box office.

Cameron maintained his innocence and handed over a 45-page declaration of how he came up with the project's concept, and on Tuesday (05Feb13) Judge Margaret Morrow ruled in Cameron's favour, stating,"Clear, undisputed evidence shows Cameron independently created Avatar and did not use Morawski's ideas."

A relieved Cameron tells TheWrap.com, "It is a sad reality of our business that whenever there is a successful film, people come out of the woodwork claiming that their ideas were used.

"Avatar was my most personal film, drawing upon themes and concepts that I had been exploring for decades. I am grateful that the court saw through the blatant falsity of Mr. Morawski's claim."