A viral dance creator has taken legal action against Roblox, alleging the gaming platform profited from her choreography without permission. TikTok creator Kelley Heyer filed a lawsuit claiming the company used her signature dance to Charli XCX’s track “Apple” as a purchasable emote for avatars.
The choreography gained massive popularity in June 2024 after Heyer shared it on social media, riding the wave of excitement around Charli XCX’s “Brat” album. The dance became so influential that the singer incorporated it into her live performances and invited Heyer to showcase it during a New York City concert.
While Fortnite reportedly secured proper licensing agreements to feature the dance in their game, court documents suggest Roblox allegedly implemented the emote without authorization. Heyer’s legal team estimates the platform generated over $123,000 through sales of more than 60,000 copies of the “Apple” dance emote.
Attorney Miki Anzai stated: “Roblox moved forward using Kelley’s IP without a signed agreement. Independent creators deserve fair compensation for their work.” The legal team emphasized they remain open to settlement discussions despite initiating legal proceedings.
In response to the allegations, Roblox released a statement affirming their commitment to intellectual property rights: “Our platform prioritizes protecting the creative rights of all developers, brands, and artists both within our ecosystem and beyond.”
This case highlights ongoing debates about digital ownership in the gaming and social media age, particularly regarding how platforms monetize user-generated content. The outcome could set important precedents for creator compensation in virtual environments.
