An American rapper is planning to pursue legal action against the makers of Fortnite, after the hugely popular video game introduced what appears to be his signature dance move.
Brooklyn-based 2 Milly claims the ‘Swipe It’ dance emote in Season 5 is a direct copy of the Milly Rock, a viral dance that he created.
Fortnite developer Epic Games charges players around $5 for the Swipe It emote, allowing them to use it in the game as a taunt or celebration.
Since launching in 2017, Fortnite has become one of the world’s most popular video games, attracting more than 78 million players each month, according to recent figures from Epic Games.
The game is free to play, however players are encouraged to spend money as they play to purchase new outfits, dance moves and weapons.
“Everybody was just like, ‘Yo, your dance is in the game,’”2 Milly told CBS News. “They actually sell that particular move. It’s for purchase. That’s when I really was like, ‘oh nah, this can’t go on too long.’”
Other rappers to take issue with the way Fortnite uses dances in the game include Chance The Rapper, who tweeted in July that Epic Games should share the royalties with the people who come up with them.
“Fortnite should put the actual rap songs behind the dances that make so much money as emotes,” the musician wrote.
“Black creatives created and popularised these dances but never monetised them. Imagine the money people are spending on these emotes being shared with the artists that made them.”
Claiming royalties for any dance moves sold in the game could be tricky for 2 Milly or any other musician or dancer with similar claims, as current copyright laws are more geared towards music and lyrics.
Epic Games did not immediately respond to a request for comment but the Swipe It emote appears to no longer be for sale on Fortnite.
