Choreographer Sues Epic Games Over Fortnite Dance Theft

Choreographer Felix "Fefe" Burgos, known for working with prominent artists like Usher and Jennifer Lopez, has filed a federal lawsuit against Epic Games claiming that Fortnite unlawfully copied and monetized the dance moves he created for Rauw Alejandro's 2024 music video "Touching the Sky" without authorization or compensation. Burgos registered the choreography with the U.S. Copyright Office shortly after the song's release, and his lawsuit highlights a side-by-side comparison showing the striking similarity between his original routine and Fortnite's emote, which was sold for 500 V-Bucks. The suit accuses Epic Games of "brazen infringement" and profiting unfairly from his creative work, while continuing a pattern of allegedly misappropriating dance routines from various artists, including previous lawsuits by Alfonso Ribeiro and TikTok creators. This case follows a 2023 federal appeals court ruling affirming that even short dance routines can be protected under copyright law, which has intensified legal scrutiny over digital platforms' use of creators' intellectual property. Epic has not publicly responded to the lawsuit, and the case underscores ongoing tensions about ownership and compensation for creative content in the gaming and metaverse industries. Burgos seeks to stop further unauthorized use of his choreography and recover profits that he argues are rightfully owed to him.