Comments on: The copyright buzz from the 'Electric Slide'

Richard Silver explains what all the fuss was about over online videos of the 1970s line dance he created.

[lmshahft]

He doesn't own the copyright to the actual dance

As one of the many who has had their dancing video removed from YouTube by Richard Silver, I'm still dumbfounded that every article related to this "I own the Electric Slide" topic fails to mention that the copyright posted on his web site does not actual apply to the dance moves, but rather to the instructional video teaching the dance moves (http://the-electricslidedance.com/). And yes, that is Spider-Man dancing on his site.
In the end, Mr. Silver has gained free publicity, and amazingly enough, the rights to grant me permission to do the Electric Slide (which I will no longer participate in).

[jeolmeun]

How do you know?

How do you know the "copyright posted on his web site does not actual apply to the dance moves"?

What's your line of reasoning?

[gravityfactory]

Richard Silver?

He created the Electric Slide?
I HIGHLY doubt it.

He may have made something and named it, but I'm not buying his invention of the dance.

I'm sure his "negotiations" are going well as in they're not answering/returning his phone calls.

I think he's just looking for a little publicity.
I think he'll get VERY little.

[taztonio]

The BUS STOP

The "electric slide" I see performed is a mix between the real electric slide and the bus stop. My mom and most of my family just do the bus stop with grapevines and a qtr turn.

I don't think the copyright will make a difference on the dance itself. I don't see anyone remaking a commercial video for this b/c the general public will believe that the video is wrong.

The older folks will never change their moves as they believe its just an evolution the bus stop. Which might be the real solution a new/old group comes out with a video and song giving the "ES" everyone knows a new name. :)

[siriusproductions]

Copyright This

I have now copyrighted laughing at stupidity. From now on, anytime that any of you laugh at stupidity, such as the idea of stopping posting of videos of someone dancing, you'll all owe me royalties. I'll make a fortune just from the number of people laughing at this case alone.

[`WarpKat]

???????

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

[gtfvbhy]

is choreography art or not?

...that it falls under copyright law? Copyright laws are all messed up. George Harrison had to pay $1.5mil for subconscious plagiarism in the My Sweet Lord / He's So Fine case.

[Arbalest05]

...Agreed, there are some problems with current copyright laws

Harrison did use the tune from "He's So Fine" and the copyright law in the US (and most other countries) doesn't say that violation must be intentional. Unlike dance moves, there is real money attached to music.

It doesn't make sense to me that noncommercial use of a series of motions of the human body would be something that you can sue over. I do agree that the name of the dance can be copyrighted.