Alfonso Ribeiro suing creators of Fortnite for copyright infringement of the "Carlton Dance"

[terry78]

https://kotaku.com/fresh-princes-alfonso-ribeiro-is-suing-fortnite-over-th-1831158303



I was hoping 2018 would go out on a high note, and damn it, this is it.

 

[Breogan]

I love his dance, and the character scene that introduced it.
Yet isn't the whole shtick he's just doing a parody of the way 80s-90s white people dance?
Do white people get to sue him LOL!

 

[CJ]

'I'm gonna be flush with cash! No more hosting America's Funniest Home Videos!

 

[Flash525]

Someone is currently leading an uninspiring life and needs to get some media attention again? Got'cha!

 

[Schlosser85]

Someone is currently leading an uninspiring life and needs to get some media attention again? Got'cha!

This. There's no way this holds water, and it comes off like Ribeiro just trying to get attention.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

From my understanding, provided he was the actual creator of the dance (which seems to be the case) and he has registered the copyright for it (otherwise he doesn't have standing to sue), he has a case. This could be legit.

 

[Flash525]

From my understanding, provided he was the actual creator of the dance (which seems to be the case) and he has registered the copyright for it (otherwise he doesn't have standing to sue), he has a case. This could be legit.

Who on earth would be that insecure as to copyright a dance?

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

Who on earth would be that insecure as to copyright a dance?

People who don't want their work used by a company to sell stuff without getting a cut. Seems fair to me.
Fortnite is selling the emote/dance.

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

From my understanding, provided he was the actual creator of the dance (which seems to be the case) and he has registered the copyright for it (otherwise he doesn't have standing to sue), he has a case. This could be legit.

The article says that he is in the process of copyright it, hence the suing.

 

[Flash525]

People who don't want their work used by a company to sell stuff without getting a cut. Seems fair to me.
Fortnite is selling the emote/dance.

But it's a dance? It's a combination of body movements. How can that even be copyrighted?

 

[Donner]

But it's a dance? It's a combination of body movements. How can that even be copyrighted?

Choreography can be copyrighted.

 

[Flash525]

Choreography can be copyrighted.

What a strange affair this is.

In either case, I stand by my initial post.

 

[samsnee]

But it's a dance? It's a combination of body movements. How can that even be copyrighted?

Songs are just a combination of notes and words. I think it's the same concept.

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

What a strange affair this is.

In either case, I stand by my initial post.

So, let's say you create a dance move and a company is monetizing it and make profit out of it and you will be fine ? Come'on ...
Example : Fortnite is selling the moon walk move, do you think the Jackson estate will be fine with that ?

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

But it's a dance? It's a combination of body movements. How can that even be copyrighted?

Like any original creation, it can.

 

[Flash525]

So, let's say you create a dance move and a company is monetizing it and make profit out of it and you will be fine ?

It just seems very petty, to sue a gaming company for a dance move; especially when said person (who so say owns the rights) has fallen out of the public eye. It just shouts attention.

Fortnite is selling the moon walk move, do you think the Jackson estate will be fine with that ?

Jackson may have used the move, it may even be his signature move, but did he create it? I can't imagine Michael Jackson was the first person to consider walking backwards during a dance, and as such, I doubt his estate will have any claim.

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

It's not matter of falling out of public eyes, you think Alfonso Ribeiro is an "has been", that is irrelevant. A company is selling something that someone else created, the someone one can be a nobody, the point is, "you" can't sell something that another person owns without his consent or giving said person his cut. That is why he is suing.

M.J may not have created the moon walk ( in fact he did not ) but I bet that if a company was selling the move without the Jackson's consent, they would be suing too. Anyways, I probably used a bad example.

As another poster said, choreography can be copyrighted end of story. It's not hard to understand, it's like any other work of art. A better example maybe : Fortnite is selling a skin, blue and red, with an insect design on the chest and big white eyes, it's just colors and an insect...right ? Do you think Marvel will get it slide ?

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

According to Legal Zoom.

The composition and arrangement of dance movements and patterns are copyrightable as choreographic works, provided they meet two criteria:

• The dance must be your original work: it must originate with you and show some minimal level of creativity.
• The dance must be fixed in a tangible object. This might include a film or video recording of the dance, or a precise written description in text or in a dance notation system. An idea for a dance is not entitled to copyright protection, nor is a dance that has been performed but not notated or recorded.

The Carlton Dance meets that criteria.

 

[Guts]

I think it's hilarious that the backpack kid is also suing Fortnite for their use of the floss dance. That kid wasn't the first to do it. The backpack kid did that dance in 2017 and it was also done in a random youtube video back in 2011.

 

[Primal Slayer]

Just wait until whatever network
Fresh Prince aired on steps in and is like "we own the character of Carlton and thus own the dance"

 

[Guts]

Can't link the article due to language, but it seems Donald Faison also isn't happy that the game used his dance as the default dance in the game.

 

[Iron_Stark]

According to Legal Zoom.



The Carlton Dance meets that criteria.

no it doesn't, he himself admits he got the dance moves from Bruce Springsteen and Courtney Cox.

The dance isn't original to him, he only made it famous.

The History Of The Carlton Dance As Told By The Legend Himself, Alfonso Ribeiro

 

[Schlosser85]

Trying to sue people for doing the same dance moves you busted once upon a time just seems egotistical and ridiculous. Especially considering by his own account Ribeiro didn’t even make it up. By his own logic Springsteen and Cox should have sued him.

 

[samsnee]

I think he’ll lose ultimately. As others have said he may have popularized it but it would be hard to argue he came up with the moves all on his own.

 

[Pink Ranger]

But it's a dance? It's a combination of body movements. How can that even be copyrighted?

Oh, dance moves totally can be copyrighted. Every time a stripper in Nevada performs the "Pink Ranger Pancake" I get 5 bucks and a used condom in the mail.