According to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, a trademark filed by Alfonso Ribeiro for The Carlton Dance was recently denied by the US Patent & Trademark Office.
Official reason was due to the USPTO feeling the breakdown of the dance does not fit their legal definiation of choreographic work for trademarks.
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Originally Posted by Destructoid
"The dancer sways their hips as they step from side to side, while swinging their arms in an exaggerated manner," states Performing Arts Registration specialist Saskia Florence. "In the second dance step, the dancer takes two steps to each side while opening and closing their legs and their arms in unison. In the final step, the dancer's feet are still and they lower one hand from above their head to the middle of their chest while fluttering their fingers. The combination of these three dance steps is a simple routine that is not registrable as a choreographic work."
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Also hurting his claim was the very long wait from when he created the dance to filing an official trademark for it.
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Originally Posted by Destructoid
The Hollywood Reporter article goes further into surprisingly deep red-tape surrounding the application. This includes referencing the fact Ribeiro didn't attempt to copyright the dance when he invented it in the '90s, even utilising the fact that he submitted a clip from show Dancing With the Stars as evidence, which the refusal bogs down in technicalities about him having an on-screen partner.
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https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/th...-dance-1186666