Fortnite is being sued over yet another emote. This time it's the "Phone It In" action at the center of the latest lawsuit.
There are some phenomena that become so big, no matter what life throws at them they just cannot be stopped. Fortnite seems to be the latest to join that club. Despite a torrent of criticism about its recent changes, the game continues to grow. Plus, the litany of lawsuits against Fortnite and Epic doesn't seem to be slowing it down much either.
So far, no fewer than four people have attempted to sue Epic for the use of certain emotes in Fortnite. The quartet claims that their moves were used without their consent. However, it turns out trying to prove you own the rights to a dance move is easier said than done. All four of those cases are currently on hold.
That isn't going to stop the company currently in charge of all those lawsuits from adding more to the docket, though. Eurogamer reports that yet another case is being filed against Epic, but this one is a little different. While it once again relates to the alleged improper use of an emote, instead of taking the copyright route, Epic has been accused of "outrageous and inexcusable conduct" in relation to replicating a likeness.
You might not have heard of the gentleman making these claims, but if you play Fortnite, his dance moves will probably ring a bell. He is a saxophonist called Leo Pellegrino. Pellegrino is well known in some musical circles for the crazy dance moves he performs while playing his instrument. As you can see above, the moves he performs on stage bear a remarkable resemblance to Fortnite's Phone It In emote.
By taking a different approach, Pellegrino is obviously hoping for more success than the lawsuits that have come before. However, we're not holding out much hope. Even if Pellegrino does end up getting something out of this, we can imagine it taking an awfully long time. Plus, it could be argued that the emote is a tribute to Epic Sax Guy. Don't let him know that though, otherwise, we could see yet another suit added to proceedings.