Charli XCX 'Apple' Dance Choreographer Sues Roblox Over Emote

The 'Apple' dance, choreographed by Kelley Heyer to Charli XCX's song of the same name, quickly became a viral sensation on TikTok. Its popularity led to celebrities and influencers replicating the dance, further amplifying its reach. Roblox, a popular online gaming platform with millions of daily users, added the dance as an emote to their game 'Dress to Impress'.

According to the lawsuit, Roblox approached Heyer to license the dance, but released the emote before negotiations were complete. Heyer's legal team asserts that Roblox has made $123,000 from sales of the emote. Heyer's attorney, Miki Anzai, stated, "Roblox moved forward using Kelley’s IP without a signed agreement. Kelley is an independent creator who should be compensated fairly for her work."

Roblox maintains that they take intellectual property rights seriously and are confident in their position. The case raises complex questions about copyright law and the extent to which dance choreography can be protected. Similar lawsuits have been filed against Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite, over the use of dance emotes. While some cases have been dismissed, others have led to settlements and licensing agreements.

Unlike Roblox, Heyer has properly licensed the 'Apple' dance to Fortnite and Netflix. The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for the licensing of creative content in the gaming and entertainment industries.

An emote is a digital animation used by players in video games to express emotions or perform actions.

Kelley Heyer claims that Roblox used and sold her copyrighted 'Apple' dance choreography without her permission.

The lawsuit alleges that Roblox made $123,000 from selling the 'Apple' dance emote.

Roblox states that they take intellectual property rights seriously and are confident in their position.

Do you think Roblox should have obtained a license before using the 'Apple' dance? What steps can independent creators take to protect their work? Share this article with others who need to stay ahead of this trend!