#GamingBytes: Rapper to sue Fortnite for stealing his dance moves
The popularity of Fortnite in the Battle Royale genre is augmented by the content it keeps adding. A part of this content includes emotes, which players use in-game and have become a sort of cultural phenomenon. However, one of its emotes could land studio Epic in legal trouble, as a rapper is considering suing it for stealing his dance moves. Read about it here.
The charges as they stand against Epic
2 Milly, a rapper, has accused Fortnite of appropriating 'The Milly Rock', his signature dance move. Gamers might recognize it as Season 5's premium emote, called 'Swipe It'. He reported of being informed by others that Fortnite was not only using his dance move as an emote but making money using it, and he realized, 'oh nah, this can't go on too long'.
No copyright for dance moves
Despite Epic using the rapper's dance move, there is no legal basis for a case, as an entertainment lawyer notes. Due to creative choreographic expression, the US Copyright Office does not accept any copyright claims concerning individual dance moves. In absence of a legal precedent, Epic cannot be held accountable legally for using the dance move, though it was rather unfair to do so.
Why do the artists deserve compensation?
Although not legally bound, Epic should realize that in using the artist's dance moves as premium emotes, it is making money off someone's hard work. Signature styles take a lot of effort and time and Epic is refusing to acknowledge the artists. 2 Milly notably said that he did not want to sue Epic for the money but to protect what is his.
The ethical dilemma in front of Epic
Despite the likely possibility of escaping legal repercussions, Epic should take an ethical stance here. Chance the Rapper suggests it could have the emotes accompanied by the music tracks from respective artists that made the moves famous in the first place. Further, it could share a portion of the sales profits with the artists as a way of crediting them for their creative talent.
