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Backpack Kid Speaks Out After Suing Fortnite Creator ... Over Floss Dance.

IbizaPocholo

IbizaPocholo

NeoGAFs Kent Brockman
https://www.tmz.com/2018/12/18/back...s-dance-alfonso-ribeiro-carlton-dance-nba-2k/


Backpack Kid is the latest to jump into the lawsuit game over Fortnite allegedly ripping off signature dances.

Backpack Kid tells us his mom and manager feel Fortnite is taking advantage of him, and he's letting the grown-ups handle the legal process.

Backpack Kid spoke out on "TMZ Live" Tuesday, saying he doesn't care about getting a fat check from the lawsuit, because he just cares about people watching and enjoying his videos. Besides, he says he's got more important things on his plate, like his 17th birthday and new single.

Interestingly enough ... we spoke to Backpack Kid about his dance in the game back in June. He told us he felt like they should cut him a check, but said, "It's not that big of a deal, I'm just glad it's in the game."

He's also suing 2K Sports, which makes NBA 2K, claiming it too stole his dance.

Backpack Kid is suing for unspecified damages and wants a judge to stop the companies from stealing his moves.

 
John Day

John Day

Member
Guys, it’s just the fact that these companies are making money off these dances, since they are not free, they are bought emotes.

They argue that they’re making money off something these people created without credit.

Think on it a bit, and then see if they are still scumbags for suing.
 
Akuza89

Akuza89

Member
Isn't there a law against claiming against movements or something?

I mean Michael Jackson made the moonwalk famous, but we all know he didn't create it....

So surely this isn't going to go anywhere?
 
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BANGS

BANGS

Banned
John Day said:
Guys, it’s just the fact that these companies are making money off these dances, since they are not free, they are bought emotes.

They argue that they’re making money off something these people created without credit.

Think on it a bit, and then see if they are still scumbags for suing.
Click to expand...
Absolutely scumbags. They don't own the dances and they know that, at least one of them is trying to bring cultural appropriation to court, and most importantly they didn't really invent the dances, they just made them popular... but fortnite made them more popular and they can't handle it...
 
DeepEnigma

DeepEnigma

Gold Member
BANGS said:
Absolutely scumbags. They don't own the dances and they know that, at least one of them is trying to bring cultural appropriation to court, and most importantly they didn't really invent the dances, they just made them popular... but fortnite made them more popular and they can't handle it...
Click to expand...

This.
 
John Day

John Day

Member
BANGS said:
Absolutely scumbags. They don't own the dances and they know that, at least one of them is trying to bring cultural appropriation to court, and most importantly they didn't really invent the dances, they just made them popular... but fortnite made them more popular and they can't handle it...
Click to expand...

Well, that is their battle in court, proving weather they created them or not.

I thought the reason there is no moonwalk in these games is because it’s copyrighted? I could be way off though.
 
JareBear: Remastered

JareBear: Remastered

Banned
lock2k said:
Why is dancing such a big deal on a shooter?

I think I'm going to yell at clouds, Excuse me.
Click to expand...

Why not???

giphy.gif


Dance Epidemic, Baby
 
cr0w

cr0w

Old Member
You know I'm not really one to advocate beating the shit out of a child, but this kid is an exception. Just looking at him pisses me off.
 
mckmas8808

mckmas8808

Mckmaster uses MasterCard to buy Slave drives
John Day said:
Guys, it’s just the fact that these companies are making money off these dances, since they are not free, they are bought emotes.

They argue that they’re making money off something these people created without credit.

Think on it a bit, and then see if they are still scumbags for suing.
Click to expand...

Why it's so wrong people some to understand this is funny.
 
Imtjnotu

Imtjnotu

Member
John Day said:
Guys, it’s just the fact that these companies are making money off these dances, since they are not free, they are bought emotes.

They argue that they’re making money off something these people created without credit.

Think on it a bit, and then see if they are still scumbags for suing.
Click to expand...
So who owns the rights to the dance because backpack kid didn't do it first.
 
N

NickFire

Member
I read somewhere that you cannot copyright dance moves. Not sure if true or where I read it. I suspect it is pretty well settled for Epic to be using dances known to have been made famous by others.
 
Shin

Shin

Banned
Not sure I'd classify that as a dance, not even sure what the hell that is it looks so dumb.
 
Pejo

Pejo

Member
This is all Disney's fault (Re: Copyright bullshit in general, though I have my suspicions about backpack kid - he looks a lot like a pixar character)
 
Alexios

Alexios

Cores, shaders and BIOS oh my!
cr0w said:
You know I'm not really one to advocate beating the shit out of a child, but this kid is an exception. Just looking at him pisses me off.
Click to expand...
Wut? Seems like a perfectly fine and polite kid in the video, wasn't even too harsh on some awful dancers. I'd expect him pretty bad if he's famous and everything, that shit messes people up, but he was fine.

Never heard of him before, just going by the video in the op.
 
Last edited:
cryptoadam

cryptoadam

Banned
I will post again

Commonplace Movements or Gestures

Individual movements or dance steps by themselves are not copyrightable, such as the basic waltz
step, the hustle step, the grapevine, or the second position in classical ballet. The U.S. Copyright
Office 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.
Examples of commonplace movements or gestures that do not qualify for registration as choreo-
graphic works or pantomimes include
•
A set of movements whereby a group of people spell out letters with their arms
•
Yoga positions
•
A celebratory end zone dance move or athletic victory gesture

Social Dances
For copyright purposes, choreographic works are a subset of dance and are not synonymous with
dance. The drafters of the copyright law also made clear that choreographic works do not include
social dance steps and simple routines. Registrable choreographic works are typically intended to
be executed by skilled performers before an audience. By contrast, uncopyrightable social dances
are generally intended to be performed by members of the public for the enjoyment of the danc-
ers themselves. Social dances, simple routines, and other uncopyrightable movements cannot be
registered as separate and distinct works of authorship, even if they contain a substantial amount of
creative expression.
Examples of social dances not protected by copyright include
•
Ballroom dances
•
Folk dances
•
Line dances
•
Square dances
•
Swing dances
Click to expand...

As of today you cannot copyright dance moves. The only way you can copyright dance moves is if they are done by a professional and for an audience. I think Alfonso may have a case since the Dance was copied from dancing with the stars (professional and audience) but then Dancing with the Stars would own the routine and not him.

I have wavered on this and the only sticking point for me is that some of these emotes look like EPIC didn't do any work themselves and just copied it 1 for 1. If they added in a few extra or different animations to the dance it would be much more cut and dry. But what they seem to be doing is basically animating it to match the original dance frame to frame. I feel that that is a bit dirty on EPICs part if they are selling the emotes. If they are free then F off.

Let the courts decide, in reality this is just a cash grab, but I also don't really care about some mega corporation either so I have no horse in this race in the end.
 
cr0w

cr0w

Old Member
Al3x1s said:
Wut? Seems like a perfectly fine and polite kid in the video, wasn't even too harsh on some awful dancers. I'd expect him pretty bad if he's famous and everything, that shit messes people up, but he was fine.
Click to expand...

My feelings are based entirely on his appearance with Katy Perry on SNL, and I know nothing else about him. It's irrational as hell. It just triggered something in my lizard brain that wants to respond with violence. I'm grumpy and old, we lash out at things our brains can't comprehend.
 
baphomet

baphomet

Member
John Day said:
Well, that is their battle in court, proving weather they created them or not.

I thought the reason there is no moonwalk in these games is because it’s copyrighted? I could be way off though.
Click to expand...

You're way off. And these people are fucking scum.
 
desertdroog

desertdroog

Member
I'd be more impressed if these 'dancers' had the quality and complexity of ballet.

Then I could see them having a point.

If your 'dance' is easily repeatable by anyone of any skill level, then perhaps you aren't that special and need to hustle a little harder.

I expect a sober and lucid court to bring a harsh reality for these folks.

Also the Carlton is a rip off of Coutney Cox dancing in the dark moves from the Springsteen concert aka, pretty much the ubiquitous 80's dance. It's in just about any 80's teen movie where a dance is happening.
 
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cr0w

cr0w

Old Member
Alright yeah, I'm gonna walk outside and rip a street sign out of the ground real quick. BRB.
 
John Day

John Day

Member
Imtjnotu said:
So who owns the rights to the dance because backpack kid didn't do it first.
Click to expand...

I don’t mean to takes sides on this, although reading myself again my post may imply as such.

I just meant to say why they were suing these companies specifically. As it seems maaaybe Ribeiro may have a case. But if anything they may end up in settlement.
 
flashfire926

flashfire926

Member
Fuck this dumbass, along with the carlton one too.

Copyrighting body movements is bullshit. Theyre just in it for the money.
 
V

Vitacat

Member
I'm under the impression that he did not invent flossing. If so, then WTF?

And even if he did, it's a dumb little dance that every kid does now. It will be old news long before Fortnite is put out to pasture.
 
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