'Fresh Prince' star sues Fortnite makers over 'Carlton' dance

Summary

Alfonso Ribeiro, famous for his iconic 'Carlton' dance from 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,' is suing Epic Games for using his moves in Fortnite without permission. Ribeiro claims the game made a fortune from the unauthorized use of his creative expression, seeking compensation for the misappropriation. This lawsuit follows similar complaints by rapper 2 Milly and actor Donald Faison, who also had their famous dances replicated in Fortnite without credit or payment. With Fortnite generating over $1 billion since 2017, this legal battle could mean significant financial repercussions for Epic Games.

Takeaways

• 🕺 Alfonso Ribeiro, known for his role as Carlton on 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,' created the iconic Carlton dance in 1991.
• 🎮 The Carlton dance is at the center of a legal battle involving the popular video game Fortnite.
• 🕹️ Fortnite features a dance emote called 'The Fresh,' which mimics Ribeiro's famous Carlton dance, available to players for $8.
• ⚖️ Ribeiro is suing Fortnite's maker, Epic Games, claiming the company used his dance without permission, credit, or compensation.
• 💼 Ribeiro's lawsuit argues that Epic Games has unfairly profited from his creative expression and likeness.
• 🎤 This isn't the first time Fortnite has faced legal issues over dance emotes; rapper 2 Milly also sued Epic for using his 'Milly Rock' dance.
• 🩰 Donald Faison, known for his role on 'Scrubs,' also noted his dance from the show was used in Fortnite without compensation.
• 🤑 Fortnite has made over $1 billion for Epic Games since its release in 2017, highlighting the financial stakes of these legal disputes.
• 📺 Many of these lawsuits involve well-known dances from TV shows and pop culture that have been recreated in Fortnite without authorization.
• 💰 The outcome of these lawsuits could have significant financial implications for Epic Games, depending on the value attributed to these dance moves.

Q & A

What is the main issue at the center of the legal battle discussed in the transcript?

The main issue is that Alfonso Ribeiro, the actor who created the iconic Carlton dance on *The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air*, is suing Epic Games for using his dance moves in their game Fortnite without his permission.

What is the Carlton dance, and who created it?

The Carlton dance is an iconic dance performed by Alfonso Ribeiro on the 90s sitcom *The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air*. He created the dance for his character, Carlton Banks, in 1991.

Why is Alfonso Ribeiro suing Epic Games?

Alfonso Ribeiro is suing Epic Games because Fortnite included the Carlton dance as an emote called 'The Fresh' without his permission, and Ribeiro claims the company is profiting from his creative expression without crediting or compensating him.

What does Ribeiro seek to gain from the lawsuit?

Ribeiro is seeking to recover the revenue he believes is rightfully owed to him for the unauthorized use of his dance in Fortnite.

What other celebrities have taken legal action against Epic Games for similar reasons?

Other celebrities who have sued Epic Games for using their dance moves in Fortnite without permission include rapper 2 Milly, who claims his Milly Rock dance was copied for the 'Swipe It' emote, and actor Donald Faison from *Scrubs*, whose air band dance was used as a default dance move in the game.

What is Fortnite’s response to these claims?

The transcript does not mention a specific response from Fortnite or Epic Games regarding these claims.

How much does Fortnite charge for players to use the Carlton dance in the game?

Fortnite charges around $8 for players to use the Carlton dance, which is called 'The Fresh' emote in the game.

How much revenue has Fortnite generated for Epic Games since its release?

Fortnite has made over $1 billion in revenue for Epic Games since its release in 2017.

What is the significance of the Carlton dance in pop culture?

The Carlton dance, performed by Alfonso Ribeiro to the Tom Jones song 'It's Not Unusual,' became a widely recognized and iconic dance from *The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air* and is strongly associated with 90s pop culture.

Why are celebrities upset with Fortnite's use of their dances?

Celebrities are upset because they feel that Fortnite is profiting from their original dance moves without compensating or crediting them, which they believe is an unlawful appropriation of their creative work.