Alfonso Ribeiro's Carlton Dance Named In Fortnite Lawsuit Over 'Stolen Dance Moves'

The creators behind the popular action adventure game, Fortnite, are being sued for stealing a dance move.

In the 'shoot-em-up' video game players can take a break from battle and have their characters do a little dance - known as an 'emote' - which mimic real-life choreography, including the 'running man' and the 'floss'.

But now rapper 2 Milly has filed the law suit for an unspecified amount, and alleges creators stole his dance moves and sold it without getting his permission.

According to reports, among those mentioned in the case are Snoop Dogg, Will Smith, and fellow Fresh Prince star Alfonso Ribeiro, known for performing the 'Carlton Dance' on the hit 90s show.

2 Milly - real name Terrence Ferguson - is suing the game company for selling his dance, the 'Milly Rock', which he claims he created in 2011.

In the video game, Epic have renamed the dance 'Swipe It' and sold it over the summer as part of a package.

Warner Bros

According to reports in SuperData, these dance moves are incredibly lucrative for the video game's creators - Epic Games Inc - who makes money from selling emotes, costumes, and a number of other 'add-ons' which have allowed them to rake in more than $2 billion since the game was released in 2017.

One student, Cole Walsh, a high-school senior in Corte Madera, in Califoria, told the Wall Street Journal that in the past he has spent $70 on buying dozens of dance moves on the game, in order to taunt his friends during battle.

He said: "It's a comical moment to take away from the uber-competitive style of the game. I don't think it would be as popular as it is without the dances."

It's understood that a spokesperson for Epic - which counts Walt Disney as one of its investing partners - said they do not comment on ongoing legal cases.

Last year the U.S. Copyright Office offered a clarification on the The U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, which covers the art of dance.

They said it 'cannot register short dance routines consisting of only a few movements or steps with minor linear or spatial variations, even if a routine is novel or distinctive'.

However, according to a professor of law from Case Western Reserve University, the court could still rule in the rapper's favour.

Prof Aaron Perzanowski said. "The Copyright Office's guidance isn't binding, courts can make their own determination as to whether or not a work is protected."

Topics: UK News, Interesting, US News, UK Entertainment, US Entertainment

Dominic Smithers

Dominic graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History. Like you, Dom has often questioned how much use a second language has been. Well, after stints working at the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express, along with never setting foot in France, he realised the answer is surprisingly little. But I guess, c'est la vie. Contact us at [email protected]

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