In the UK, original dramatic works (including works of dance or mime) are protected under English Copyright Law. 'Whether or not these dances attract copyright protection would appear to turn on whether these short routines or movements are sufficiently original'
Whether these emotes are an homage or infringement depends on whether the dance moves that they imitate are protected by copyright. Similarly, there are emotes that resemble Snoop Dogg's Drop It Like It's Hot dance, Psy's Gangnam Style, and even Donald Faison's Poison dance from the US sitcom Scrubs. Rapper 2 Milly has said he is considering legal action against Epic over the game's Swipe It emote, which appears to replicate the artist's dance, the Milly Rock. Gregor Pryor is Global Entertainment and Media Industry Group Co-Chair for Reed Smith.Ī number of performers and artists have raised concerns about their signature dance moves being used in Epic Games' Fortnite as 'emotes' - emotes being actions, flourishes and dances that a character can perform in the game, ranging from a round of applause to short choreographed routines.
