Kelley Heyer, actor and creator of the content of Tiktok, sued Roblox to exploit and sell her copyright dance to “Apple” pop star Charli XCX – Dance that has become popular on Tiktok AND It even became part of the Charli XCX concert live. Heyer filed a lawsuit in California on April 11, claiming that she and Roblox are negotiating the official licensing of dance in Roblox; However, Roblox released Emota before finalizing negotiations and never succeeded.
Roblox added a dance emota in mid -August, coinciding with Dress up Update that added everything Brat (Charli XCX summer hit) to the game on August 17. Heyer first published the dance “Apple” on June 15, 2024 and submitted to him an application for copyright on August 30. It was after Roblox contacted her to license the dance after the improved Charli XCX label concluded a contract Roblox To introduce an artist Dress up. Heyer said she was ready to license dance on August 12, in accordance with the lawsuit. But the dance was issued before the negotiations were finalized. Heyer said in the lawsuit that Roblox “refused to finalize the license agreement” and compensate Heyer for her dance.
“Roblox moved forward using IP Kelley without a signed contract,” said Miki Anzai’s lawyer in a statement for Polygon. “Kelley is an independent creator who should be honestly compensated for his work and we have not seen any other option than submitting a lawsuit to prove it. We are willing and open to settlement and we hope to reach a peaceful agreement.”
. “Apple” Dance is no longer available for sale at Roblox – It was sold until November 2024. Heyer said in the lawsuit that Roblox sold “over 60,000 Emoteu Apple Dance units” and earned the sale of “around USD 123,000”. “Because the Apple Dance emotka only includes Apple Dance choreography, completely separate and different from the song Charli XCX, the only” artist “for Emota’s purposes is Mrs. Heyer,” wrote lawyers in the complaint.
Heyer’s “Apple” dance was Correctly licensed FortnitePosted in December and sold as an emot. Heyer said Netflix also licensed his exploit. Heyer is looking for court to grant his Roblox profits on dance, as well as other damage. Epic Games has been the defendant several times in the past due to the exploit of popular or viral dances as emotions in Battle Royale; Five lawsuits were dismissed in 2019, including one submitted by Fresh Prince Bel-Air Actor Alfonso Ribeiro.
One of the latest lawsuits, filed by the choreographer Kyle Hanagami, was dismissed and dismissed; The ninth circuit reversed the exemption and enlivened the argument that “reduction of choreography to” poses “would be similar to reducing music to” notes “. According to the Court of Appeal. Both sides agreed to reject the lawsuit in 2024. Now quite often Epic games Fortnite.
Reached the comment, the spokesperson Roblox issued the following Polygon statement:
“As a platform powered by the creators’ community, Roblox is very solemn about the protection of intellectual property and is involved in protecting the intellectual property rights of independent programmers and creators against the platform and artists on the platform. Roblox is sure of its position and the rightness of its contacts in this matter and expects that in court.”
Update: This story has been updated about the commentary of the spokesman Roblox and Heyer’s lawyer.
