Dance and intellectual property, register as movement trademark and the Moonwalk case
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47274/DERUM/48.1Keywords:
dance, intellectual property, choreography, performers, movement trademark, MoonwalkAbstract
The article first discusses the facets of dance, focusing on the analysis of the different possibilities of intellectual property protection in general. Then, in particular, the different creations involved are analyzed, explaining the range of rights corresponding to right holders: choreographers; dancers; directors and other roles in the preparation or production of a dance show; scenic and complementary elements. The special legal protection of folk and traditional dances is also presented. Secondly, the possibility of protecting choreographies, sequences of steps or movements by means of movement trademarks is analyzed. Thirdly, the particular case of the choreography and the step known as Moonwalk is considered to examine the possibilities of protection by copyright, trademark or unfair competition. Finally, we reflect on the advantages and limitations of the different intellectual property protection systems in relation to creative elements of dance.
Downloads
References
Alcabes, E. A. (1987). Unauthorized Photographs of Theatrical Works: Do They Infringe the Copyright? Columbia Law Review, 87(5), 1032–1047. https://doi.org/10.2307/1122725
Arbeau, T. (1589) Orchesographie et traicté en forme de dialogue par lequel toutes personnes peuvent facilement apprendre & practiquer l'honneste exercice des danses. https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k54531m.image
Aubert, M. (2018) Que reste-t-il de la Tecktonik? Nova. https://www.nova.fr/news/que-reste-t-il-de-la-tecktonik-21150-10-09-2018/
Baril, J. (1964) Dictionnaire de danse. Paris: Éditions du Seuil.
Bazarova, N. & Mei, V. (1998) El abecé de la danza clásica. Santiago: Anabella Roldán.
tr. Olga Wischnjewski.
Bercovitz Rodríguez-Cano, R. (1997) Comentarios a la ley de propiedad intelectual. Rodrigo Bercovitz Rodríguez-Cano coord. 2da. ed. Madrid: Tecnos.
Bourgat, M. (1966) Técnica de la danza. Buenos Aires: Editoriales Unidas de Buenos Aires.
Burri, M. (2022) The Protection of Cultural Heritage by Trademarks. Irini Stamatoudi (ed), Research Handbook on Intellectual Property and Cultural Heritage Londres: Edward Elgar. https://ssrn.com/abstract=3947043
Corrêa Haber, T. et al. (2022) Proteção de obras coreográficas: preservação da memória artística. Belém: Editora IFPA. https://proppg.ifpa.edu.br/documentos-e-formularios/editora-ifpa/2028-e-book-protecao-de-obras-coreograficas/file
Cosentino, E. (1999) Escuela clásica de ballet. Buenos Aires: CS Ediciones.
da Rocha Fragoso, J.H. (2009) Direito Autoral: da Antigüedade à Internet. San Pablo: Quartier Latin.
Dessemontet, R. (1999) Le droit d'auter. Geneve: Cedidac.
Watkins, E. (2003) May I Have This Dance?: Establishing a Liability Standard for Infringement of Choreographic Works, 10 Journal Intellectual Propriety Law. Vol 10. https://digitalcommons.law.uga.edu/jipl/vol10/iss2/13
Emery, M.A. (2001) Propiedad Intelectual. Ley 11.723. Comentada, anotada y concordada con los tratados internacionales. 1ra ed. 1ra reimpr. Buenos Aires: Astrea.
Emrich, D. (1946) Folk-Lore’: William John Thoms. California Folklore Quarterly, vol. 5, no. 4, Western States Folklore Society, pp. 355–74, https://doi.Org/10.2307/1495929
Feuillet, R.A. (1700) Chorégraphie ou l'art de décrire la dance. París. https://www.libraryofdance.org/manuals/1700-Feuillet-Choregraphie_(BNF).pdf
Geiregat, S. (2022) Trade Marks in Sounds and Gestures: A Critical Analysis of Two Non-Traditional Signs in the EU, GRUR International, Volume 71, Issue 8, pp. 702–718. https://doi.org/10.1093/grurint/ikac053
Graham, L. R., & Penny, H. G. (Eds.). (2014). Performing Indigeneity: Global Histories and Contemporary Experiences. University of Nebraska Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1d9nmw6
Hernando Collazos, I. (2015) Aproximacion del derecho de autor al arte performativo. Revista sobre Patrimonio Cultural, Regulación, Propiedad Intelectual e Industrial. Nº 5-6 https://ideas.repec.org/a/erv/riipac/y2014i5-605.html
Jackson, S. & Hokowhitu, B. (2002) Sport, tribes, and technology the New Zealand. All Blacks Haka and the Politics of Identity. Journal of Sport and Social Issues. 26 (2) https://doi.org/10.1177/0193723502262002
Knight, M. (2021) Choreography and Copyright A Complex Pas De Deux. Michigan Bar Journal
https://www.michbar.org/file/barjournal/article/documents/pdf4article4228.pdf
Krakower, K, (2018) Finding the Barre: Fitting the Untried Territory of Choreography Claims into Existing Copyright Law, 28 Fordham Intell. Prop. Media & Ent. L.J. V. 28 https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/iplj/vol28/iss3/5
Lakes, J.M. (2005) A pas de deux for choreography and copyright. New York University Law Review Vol. 80. N. 6. https://www.nyulawreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/NYULawReview-80-6-Lakes.pdf
Lopez de Quintana, K. (2004) The Balancing Act: How Copyright and Customary Practices Protect Large Dance Companies over Pioneering Choreographers, Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Journal Vol 11 https://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/mslj/vol11/iss1/5
Lula, K. (2006) The pas de deux between dance and law. Tossing copyright law into the wings and bringing dance custom centerstage. Chicago-Kent Journal of Intellectual Property. 5. https://scholarship.kentlaw.iit.edu/ckjip/vol5/iss2/6
Mitchell, G. (2018) Who controls the dance: copyright in the world of choreography. AIPLA Quarterly Journal. Vol. 46 N. 3 https://www.aipla.org/docs/default-source/quarterly-journal/46-3_3_mitchell_finale308e6d71a0c4aac86b342212fe31ae9.pdf?sfvrsn=1a722c82_2
Ng, R. (2022) Danza hula de Hawái: una historia de apropiación, corrupción y renacimiento. National Geographic. 23 de marzo. https://www.nationalgeographic.es/viaje-y-aventuras/2022/03/danza-hula-de-hawai-una-historia-de-apropiacion-corrupcion-y-renacimiento
Noverre, J.G. (1760) Lettre sur la danse, et les ballets. Lyon: Delaroche. https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k108204h.texteImage ;
https://www.libraryofdance.org/manuals/1760-Noverre-Lettres_(BNF).pdf
OMPI. (1978) Guía del Convenio de Berna. Ginebra. OMPI.
OMPI – Organización Mundial de la Propiedad Intelectual. (2020) Propiedad intelectual y recursos genéticos, conocimientos tradicionales y expresiones culturales tradicionales. Ginebra: OMPI. https://tind.wipo.int/record/42281?v=pdf, 27/4/2924
Petiau, A. (2011) Technomedia (1-). Éditions Mélanie Seteun, Centre d’information et de ressources pour les musiques actuelles. https://doi.org/10.4000/books.ms.332
Pierrat, E. & Kruger, L. (2020). La protection et la conservation des œuvres chorégraphiques. L'Observatoire, 55(1) https://doi.org/10.3917/lobs.055.0080.
Powell, R. (2002) Breaching Moral Rights: Is There A Legal Remedy? Dalhousie Journal of Legal Studies. Vol. 11. https://digitalcommons.schulichlaw.dal.ca/djls/vol11/iss1/
Rhodes, G. (2011) Owning the dance. Michael Jackson’s Movement Signature. Thesis. https://core.ac.uk/download/161439726.pdf
Rodó, J.E. (1918) Motivos de Proteo. 2da. ed. Valencia: Editorial Cervantes. http://www.autoresdeluruguay.uy/biblioteca/Jose_Enrique_Rodo/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=motivos_de_proteo_cervantes_1918_.pdf
Romero, A. (1935) La Propiedad Intelectual (Ley 11.723). Buenos Aires: Abeledo.
Rudoff, M. (1991) The dancer and the dance: an essay on composers, performers, and integrity rights. Alberta Law Review. V. XXIX. N. 4. https://albertalawreview.com/index.php/ALR/article/view/1536
Satanowsky, I. (1954) Derecho Intelectual. T. I. Buenos Aires: Tipográfica Editora Argentina.
Singer, B. (1984) In Search of Adequate Protection for Choreographic Works: Legislative and Judicial Alternatives vs. The Custom of the Dance Community, University of Miami Law Review. Vol. 38 https://repository.law.miami.edu/umlr/vol38/iss2/5
Soler Benito, C. (2015) Propiedad Intelectual en las obras escénicas. Tesis doctoral. Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona. Recuperado de: https://ddd.uab.cat/pub/tesis/2016/hdl_10803_381261/csb1de1.pdf
Sweney, M. (2007) Adidas draws on All Blacks' heritage. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/aug/31/advertising1
Sye, D. (2021) Literally Stealing the Show: A Brief (and Recent) History of Dance Copyright. The Intellectual Freedom Blog. The Office for Intellectual Freedom of the American Library Association. https://www.oif.ala.org/literally-stealing-the-show-a-brief-and-recent-history-of-dance-copyright/
Tangcay, J. (2021) Beyonce and Megan Thee Stallion Choreographer JaQuel Knight Launches Company to Copyright Dance Moves. Variety https://variety.com/2021/artisans/news/beyonce-choreographer-jaquel-knight-copyright-dance-moves-1234957578/
U.S. Copyright Office (2021) Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices. § 101. 3d ed. Washington D.C. https://www.copyright.gov/comp3/
Vaganova, A. (1945) Las Bases de la danza Clásica. Buenos Aires: Centurión.
Varmer (2025) Dancing on Their Own: Alternatives to Copyright for the Choreographic Community. Harvard Law Review. Vol. 138 N. 5. https://harvardlawreview.org/print/vol-138/dancing-on-their-own-alternatives-to-copyright-for-the-choreographic-community/
https://harvardlawreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/138-Harv.-L.-Rev.-1429.pdf
Waelde, C. Whatley, S. Pavis, M. (2014) Let's Dance! But who owns it?. European Intellectual Property Review, volume 36 (4) https://pure.coventry.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/13324226/Let_s_dance.pdf
Werosh, S., Veneziani, W. (2002) Bailar en uruguayo. Montevideo: Praxis.
Wilson, I. (2020) The Misappropriation of the Haka: Are the Current Legal Protections Around Matauranga Maori in Aotearoa New Zealand Sufficient? Victoria University of Wellington Law Review Vol 51 (4)
https://www.nzlii.org/nz/journals/VUWLawRw/2020/20.html
Jurisprudencia mencionada:
Canadá
Patsalas v. (1986), C.P.R. (2d) 105 Ontario High Court
(Powell, 2002, p. 251-252. Rudoff, 1991, p. 896)
España
Audiencia Provincial de Pamplona/Iruña, Sentencia Nº 000270/2019 de 10 de junio de 2019
Audiencia Provincial Sección Quinta Sevilla, Sentencia Nº 575/22 de 28 de diciembre de 2022
Uruguay
Tribunal de Apelaciones en lo Civil de 1º turno, Sentencia N° 32/2009 de 15 de abril de 2009
United States of America
Horgan v. MacMillan, Inc., 621 F. Supp. 1169 (S.D.N.Y. 1985). District Court for the Southern District of New York, 19 de noviembre de 1985
https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/621/1169/1368629/
Horgan v. Macmillan, Inc., 789 F.2d 157, 161 (2d Cir. 1986) Court of Appellations of 2nd Circuit, New York, de 28 de abril de 1985
https://casetext.com/case/horgan-v-macmillan-inc-2
Martha Graham School v. Martha Graham Center, 224 F. Supp. 2d 567 (S.D.N.Y. 2002) District Court for the Southern District of New York, sentencia de 23 de agosto de 2002
https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp2/224/567/2489974/
Bikram's Yoga College v. Evolation Yoga, No. 13-55763 (9th Cir. 2015), sentencia de 8 de octubre de 2015.
https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca9/13-55763/13-55763-2015-10-08.html
Kyle Hanagami v. Epic Games, inc., et al, Case Nº 22-CV-2063 District Court for the Central District of California, 29 marzo 2022
https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/hanagami-v-epic-games-complaint.pdf
Kyle Hanagami v. Epic Games, inc., et al, No. 22-55890 - 9th Cir. 2023, sentencia de 1 de noviembre de 2023
https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca9/22-55890/22-55890-2023-11-01.html
https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2023/11/01/22-55890.pdf
Videos analizados para el caso Moonwalk
htong2 (22 de noviembre de 2012) The First Moonwalk - Bill Bailey. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2kG1KRvFMc
AbejaMariposaIV. (26 de julio de 2013) Origins of the moonwalk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH7VymwHLmo
Dominique Dupagne. (10 de enero de 2014) James Brown I Got You 1965 Moonwalk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2ODuUAhCPg
Shalamar - Howard Hewett - Jeffrey Daniel - Carolyn Griffey (22 de junio de 2016) Shalamar - Jeffrey Daniel - The MoonWalk - Top Of The Pops - The Story Of 1982
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG2YB9pp484
Le Bigmac (22 de enero de 2017) Michael Jackson - Billie jean (live 1983 first time moonwalk). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L55jpld7gzA
Zapparr@JPN (2 de marzo de 2018) Electric Boogaloo / Moon Walk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG7BpB3O7T4
Ina Actu (28 de noviembre de 2018) Michael Jackson dans les pas du mime Marceau | Franceinfo INA. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy9LS-iGwfY
Ricardo Brust. (26 de julio del 2020) El Principito 1974 Escena serpiente. Bob Fosse.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjcCXKjUqFQ
Mr Tibbster. (15 de marzo de 2021) Origin of the Backslide/Moonwalk | 1930-1983.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFXN2cu-hzI
DangerouslyBad58, (20 de noviembre de 2022) Michael Jackson Billie Jean Moonwalk Evolution (1983-2009) | High Quality. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCsjvYmnc58
Daily Motion – Dive into the World of Fun (5 de julio de 2024) Charlie Chaplin Moonwalk.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
This work is under a 