File photo of Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air star Alfonso Ribeiro (right) (Ian West/PA)
The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air star Alfonso Ribeiro has been denied a copyright for the Carlton dance, which he is suing two videogame makers over.
The denial from the US Copyright Office was revealed in a motion to dismiss Ribeiro’s lawsuit against Take-Two Interactive, the makers of NBA 2K16, which Ribeiro says illegally makes use of the dance.
The document denying the copyright says the moves in the Carlton represent a simple dance routine rather than a work of choreography, which can be copyrighted.
Alfonso Ribeiro (Ian West/PA)
A hearing on the motion to dismiss is scheduled for March 18.
Ribeiro’s dance was popularised through his character, Carlton Banks, on the 1990s sitcom.
He is also suing Epic Games over the use of the dance in Fortnite, joining several rappers suing the game over dances.
Alfonso Ribeiro loses copyright bid over the Carlton dance
