LOS ANGELES, California -- "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" star Alfonso Ribeiro has been denied a copyright for the "Carlton" dance, which he's suing two videogame makers over.
The denial from the U.S. Copyright Office was revealed Wednesday 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.
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A hearing on the motion to dismiss is scheduled for March 18.
Ribeiro's dance was popularized through his character, Carlton Banks, on the 1990s sitcom.
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He's also suing Epic Games over the use of the dance in "Fortnite," joining several rappers suing the game over dances.