Alfonso Ribeiro sues Epic Games for use of 'Carlton' dance in 'Fortnite'
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Solfaur
This brings back memories... used to love the show as a kid. Even though I only had access to it trough German TV stations, it was great. Used to like Will Smith a lot too, now not so much. As for Alfonso, I guess he really is desperate.
vbetts
Moderator
I think a game like Fortnite is in the media and limelight from every aspect, so it's easy to see now. Aka, he wants a piece of the pie.
RavenMaster
Did Epic try to sell the Carlton Dance in their store or is it in the game for free? Coz charging players would trigger copyright as its Alfonso’s signature dance. Epic would be in violation if they’re trying to use it as a cash grab.
sverek
This is the bottomline.
schmidtbag
I don't see how he has a case. Unless he himself trademarked the dance, there are more laws protecting Epic than there are laws protecting him. Even if the dance is trademarked, it wouldn't surprise me if NBC would get the royalties.
lucidus
Meh. Reminds me of the time when Lindsay Lohan tried to sue Rockstar for GTA 5. All popular things go through this sh1t.
Fox2232
No more peeing in standing position unless you pay!
Mineria
Epic Games used his dance under the name "Fresh," which players could then purchase
I think it is cool that he bashes out after Epic for using it as an cashcow item without even bothering to pay any credits.
More a matter of principles, besides that, the case goes after getting the dance removed and not money if I understood the articles context correct?
waltc3
Interesting. It's more than obvious that Epic used that Fresh Prince cut for its "Fresh" dance in Fortnite--indisputable, really--the clip-to-clip comparison here is undeniable. The name "Fresh" from Epic is itself further verification of that fact. And "fair use" does not apply to a commercial application (you can't sell it as Epic is doing, otherwise it is no longer "fair use.") However, what sinks Alfonso is the fact that the dance itself is not copyrighted--indeed, as pointed out earlier in the thread--dance routines are not subject to copyright, and so of course whether he's "in the process" of applying for a dance copyright is irrelevant--he doesn't have one now and has no expectation of being granted one in the future. As also pointed out earlier, the dance likely belongs to the TV network which broadcast the show--not to Alfonso, anyway, who likely does not even have standing to apply for a copyright for anything in the show. Here we have another starving lawyer looking for a contingency fee from a settlement, no doubt! If we would return to the days of the loser paying all court costs and fees and lawyer bills for *both* sides it would greatly cut down on frivolous suits like this, imo.
pokerapar88
While I think that filing a law suit because of this is stupid, I also think that Fortnite devs are not doing things right. They are charging users to get these dance moves. If it were a drop from a lootbox that is given to you when you level up or something, it would be ceirtainly better. The problem is that they are earning money from dance moves that are not theirs. Specifically for that.
schmidtbag
To my recollection, the game is free and as far as I'm aware, these dance moves contribute nothing to your performance in the game. Why is that a problem? Microtransactions are only bad when they're pay-to-win or promote gambling.
Neo Cyrus
I own the copyright to squatting or sitting while taking a shit. Pay up.
Agent-A01
There have been many games including the Carlton dance as cosmetics.
This lawsuit won't go anywhere.
Why is EPIC getting sued instead of the many previous publishers?
Answer, this is purely an attempt at a cash grab.
This one won't go anywhere either.
That kid didn't 'create' that dance move either, it was on youtube over a decade ago from some other guy.
tsunami231
https://media.tenor.com/images/8a3dbc0996b84da5c65daa1f74d62a75/tenor.png
sverek
Suddenly, wifes around the world became much happier.
aw man.... 🙁
Time to rewatch the south park episode where they ate food with ass.
blkspade
If only he had the foresight to trademark it, he would have likely had a case. After all you can't utter the phrase "Lets get ready to rumble" on TV or Radio in the US without having to pay Michael Buffer. Alfonso has really had a stellar acting career after Fresh Prince, it is entirely possible this is the first time its use has been brought to his attention with games being way higher profile now. If he is not a gamer himself, its even more likely one of his kids was probably playing it and saw that dance. Of all those games it was previously in, his oldest (15 yo) daughter would most likely have only played Fortnite. Both my 14 and 11 yo daughters like fortnite while being too young for, uninterested in, or oblivious to those other games.
RavenMaster
Ha XD
So they infringed on the 'Fresh' Prince title and the dance and tried to make money off of it. Not a very smart move by Epic. All they had to do was ask permission and perhaps sort out a royalty percentage
CoMmAnDrX2
[youtube=Y-X4rmwbtns]
Everyone do the Carlton
Valken
AFAIK, Alphonso in real-life was a professional dancer WAY before being an actor. Something like preteen or close to that.
The dance was invented by him and used in many of his previous dance routines that everyone from the era knows it as the Carlton then and gain massive recognition with the Fresh Prince association.
Fortnite is making money OFF someone else's work without compensation or approval, and not giving it away for free as promotion.
It would be the same if some other company copied someone else's artwork or drawing or game and made money of it. People will still complain about - look at this game copying PUBG and dumping their original game premise - L4D + Minecraft to survive.
The whole game and management team's success IS riding on other people's previous efforts instead of it's own creativity so of course people will be mad.
At least show some respect and ask for token approval. Epic has been going down the drain as any other copy cat game company...
Why even bother? Just copy the next game trend with cartoon characters and blam, next hit.
Steppzor
This kid and his mother is going to learn a hard life lesson with frivolous lawsuit since he stole the dance from College Humor who posted it years before this kid on youtube
[youtube=YyoGZ8QDU5k]
