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Teenage boy sues Fortnite creators for stealing dance moves

A teenage boy known as “The Backpack Kid” is suing Epic Games, the developers of video game Fortnite, for allegedly stealing his dance move.

Russell Horning, 16, became famous when he appeared on Saturday Night Live with Katie Perry and performed his dance move known as “The Floss” two years ago.

According to celebrity news site TMZ, Horning’s mum and manager are planning to sue Fortnite’s developers, accusing the video game of using his dance move.

Russell Horning performs the Floss Dance on Saturday Night Live in 2017 and (right) a Fortnite character doing Floss emoticon. Source: Getty Images/ Epic Games
Russell Horning performs the Floss Dance on Saturday Night Live in 2017 and (right) a Fortnite character doing Floss emoticon. Source: Getty Images/ Epic Games

Fortnite players can currently use an “emote” which allows their character to perform “The Floss” during the game.

In June, Horning told TMZ he felt Fortnite should pay him over the emote but he didn’t think it was “a big deal”.

He’s yet to copyright the dance move.

Alfonso Ribeiro, the actor known for playing Carlton in Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, is also suing Fortnite, claiming it has stolen his dance move for an emoticon, Variety reported.

Alfonso Ribeiro performs the ‘Carlton dance’ in an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1996. Source: Getty Images
Alfonso Ribeiro performs the ‘Carlton dance’ in an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1996. Source: Getty Images

Ribeiro’s lawyer David L. Hecht told Variety “it is widely recognised” the actor’s “likeness and intellectual property have been misappropriated” by Fortnite’s developers.

He added his client is yet to be compensated or approached for permission to use the move.

Rapper 2 Milly is also suing the developers, claiming they stole a dance move used in a 2014 music video.

All three are also suing the developers of basketball game NBA 2K Take-Two Interactive over claims they used their respective dance moves without compensation or permission.

Dancing is protected as intellectual property under US copyright law.