Viral Apple dance creator sues Roblox over its use in the game
The TikToker behind the viral Apple dance has taken legal action against Roblox.
Kelley Heyer's choreography, inspired by Charli XCX's hit song of the same name, appeared in TikTok videos by the likes of Kylie Jenner, actress Daisy Edgar-Jones and even the singer herself.
Ms Heyer's legal team claims Roblox made $123,000 (£93,000) from selling the moves as an "emote" - a celebratory animation used by players in the game - without her permission.
Roblox tells BBC Newsbeat it takes intellectual property "very seriously" and is confident it hasn't done anything wrong.
An estimated 80 million people play Roblox every day and it has more monthly users than the Nintendo Switch and Sony PlayStation combined.
Roblox made a deal with Charli XCX last year to use her music and likeness as part of an in-game concert within Dress to Impress - one of the most popular experiences on the platform.
According to reports shared by Ms Heyer, she'd been in talks with Roblox to license the Apple dance but hadn't given final approval before it appeared in the game.
Ms Heyer previously told Newsbeat about kicking off the trend when she debuted some moves for the "unappreciated" track from Charli XCX's award-winning album, Brat.
At the time she said she had seen "large brands or huge creators" capitalising on the trend without crediting her.
"And that sort of bums me out a little bit," she said.
"That could have been a really good opportunity, really good exposure for me."
A Roblox spokesperson said: "As a platform powered by a community of creators, Roblox takes the protection of intellectual property very seriously and is committed to protecting intellectual property rights of independent developers and creators to brands and artists both on and off the platform," a spokesperson says.
"Roblox is confident in its position and the propriety of its dealings in this matter and looks forward to responding in court."
Newsbeat has contacted Ms Heyer and her representatives for further comment.
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.
Tearing other women down isn't brat, says Apple dance creator
Brits go Brat as Charli XCX wins five awards
Brat crowned Collins Dictionary 2024 word of the year
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Boston Globe
43 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
I hope I haven't just seen the future of hospitality
We finally learned that the door is tricky — you had to use a quirky maneuver to push, then pull, then push again, and it opened. Had a human been there it would have saved a lot of frustration. Get The Gavel A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Enter Email Sign Up In the lobby there was a hotel desk that looked eerie without a human behind it. There was no concierge to ask about museums, good seafood restaurants nearby, or whether it was better to get around on a tram, taxi, or bus. There was a stack of keycards and instructions for making a second key. But the instructions clearly warned that creating a new key would deactivate the existing one. We couldn't take that risk. And there was no human to ask. Advertisement The room itself was beautiful — sleek and minimal, like a modern Japanese hotel. It was clearly designed with the idea that everything would be intuitive, like unboxing an Apple device. It wasn't. Despite both of us being tech-savvy, we struggled with basic features like the lighting. It wasn't a user issue — it was a design flaw. I've stayed in many hotels that use digital check-in, check-out, and digital key systems. But in every case, there was always a human at the front desk — someone to greet me, answer questions, or help when things didn't go as planned. This time was different. I had stepped into what was clearly meant to be the hotel of the future. While I can imagine that design glitches will eventually be ironed out, what unsettled me most wasn't the imperfect design or technology — it was the complete absence of any human presence. Automated service in hospitality has a long history dating back to 1895, with the opening of the world's first automat restaurant in Berlin. The technology was shown at the Brussels World's Fair in 1897, and then quickly expanded around the world to restaurant chains like Horn & Hardart in New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. My parents took me to one as a child and told me it was magic, until I spotted a human hand slipping a lemon meringue pie into an empty bin. Many cafes today are automated using robots (e.g., in the United States, China, Dubai, Berlin). It's always fun to watch a robot make and serve coffee. However, a service performed by a robot is different from what I experienced in the Berlin hotel — at least the robot gives you a sense of interaction. Robots provide a visible interface — we see them prepare the coffee, pour it, serve it. There's a kind of feedback loop. With purely automated systems that lack even a robotic presence, there's no visual representation of the service being performed. They are just invisible systems working (or not) in the background. Advertisement Today, many hotels are investing heavily in fully automated experiences, claiming benefits like higher efficiency, lower operational costs, and improved guest satisfaction. I can easily accept the first and second claims, but I wonder: Where's the evidence that automation actually improves guest satisfaction? In contactless hotels, no one greets you, smiles at you, asks about your travel, or engages in small talk. Our hotel experience in Berlin reminded me of the growing loneliness epidemic — another instance of the absence of human interaction. Of course, we don't expect to form relationships with hotel staff, but simple human gestures do matter. Some hotel chains, like Warwick Hotels, even have their front desk staff wear name tags showing their hometowns — a small touch that sparks conversation. Many industries have already transitioned away from human interaction: escape rooms, cinemas, virtual reality arcades, car rentals, campsites. We rarely question it anymore. But this Berlin hotel experience really hit home how much I value and miss the most basic human connection. When I was growing up, my father took me to the library every week. The librarian knew me, remembered what I liked to read, and often had books ready for me. Even today, I love to go regularly to a café where the staff know me. It feels special. Once, while we were traveling in Central America, the gate agent greeted us warmly upon arrival in Guatemala. Days later, when we were running late for our return flight, that same agent remembered our departure flight, waited in the lobby, and personally rushed us through to the gate (this was before 9/11), holding the small plane just for us. That's real service. Advertisement I am no Luddite. But we need to carefully consider what technology should and should not replace. A future hospitality industry without a human touch — in hotels, restaurants, stores, taxis — will only deepen a culture of disconnection. AI can learn your preferences, but it can't offer empathy. We will likely quickly normalize fully automated experiences, and it will feel as ordinary as self-check-in kiosks do today. Yes, it will be more efficient, and yes, it will reduce costs. But something intangible will be lost: a piece of our shared humanity. In the end, convenience technology will continue to reshape the hospitality industry — but we must ask what kind of world we're creating in the process. Efficiency should not come at the cost of connection. A hotel stay, like so many small moments in life, is more than just a transaction; it's an opportunity for warmth, welcome, and human presence. As we automate more of our everyday experiences, let's be careful not to automate away the very things that make us feel seen, valued, and human. A smile at check-in, a brief conversation, a gesture of kindness — these are not inefficiencies to be eliminated. They are the soul of hospitality, and without them, we risk designing a world that feels increasingly cold and lonely.
Digital Trends
7 hours ago
- Digital Trends
Apple's most underrated app could change soon, and you're going to love it
Apple's shortcuts app is a power user's dream. I think it's one of the most underrated features you can find on an iPhone, and even Macs. In case you haven't used it yet, it allows you to perform a multi-step task in one go, or even trigger certain actions automatically. One of my favorite shortcuts is instantly generating a QR code of a Wi-Fi network, instead of narrating a complex password. I've got another one that automatically deletes screenshots after a 30-day span. There are a few in my library that trigger Do Not Disturb mode for a certain time slot, turn any webpage into a PDF, even snap Mac windows, and activate my smart devices when I reach home. Recommended Videos All that sounds convenient, but creating those shortcuts isn't a cakewalk. The UI flow and action presets can overwhelm tech-savvy users when it comes to creating their own automations. Apple may have a user-friendly solution, thanks to AI, and you just might get it this year. Apple has the foundation ready According to Bloomberg, Apple is preparing an upgraded version of the Shortcuts app that will put AI into the mix. 'The new version will let consumers create those actions using Apple Intelligence models,' says the report. The AI models could be Apple's own, which means they are better suited for integration with system tools and apps than a third-party AI model. Take, for example, the Siri-ChatGPT integration. OpenAI's chatbot can handle a wide range of tasks that Siri can't accomplish, but ChatGPT isn't able to interact with other apps and system tools on your iPhone. That means it can't assist you with making cross-app Shortcuts either. At WWDC 2025, Apple is rumored to reveal its own AI models and open them to app developers, as well. The idea is to let developers natively integrate AI-driven features in their apps without having to worry about security concerns. Microsoft is already using in-house AI models for a wide range of Copilot experiences on Windows PCs. Moreover, the company also offers its Phi family of open AI models to developers for building app experiences. Apple just needs to follow in Microsoft's footsteps. With developers adopting Apple's AI foundations and the company expanding it to the Shortcuts app, it would be much easier to create multi-step workflows easily. How so? Well, just look at Gemini on Android phones. Shortcuts needs an AI makeover Imagine just narrating a workflow to Siri, and it's turned into a shortcut. That's broadly what AI tools are already capable of, but instead of creating a rule for the future, they just execute the task at hand immediately. With AI in Shortcuts, things should go like: 'Hey Siri, create a shortcut that automatically replies to all messages I get on weekends regarding my unavailability, and tell them to reach me again on Monday. Trigger the action when I say the words I'm out.' With natural language processing on AI models, that's feasible. Look no further than how Gemini works on Android devices, especially those with on-device Gemini Nano processing. With a voice command, Gemini can dip into your workspace data and get work done across Gmail, Docs, and more connected apps. It can even handle workflows across third-party apps such as WhatsApp and Spotify. The list keeps on growing, and as capabilities like Project Mariner and Astra are rolled out through Gemini Live, newer possibilities will open. With a revamped Shortcuts app, Apple just needs to get the voice processing right and convert the prompts into actionable commands. Apple's partner, OpenAI, already offers a feature called Operator that can autonomously handle tasks on the web. Creating a chain of commands across mobile apps that are running locally should be easier and less risky compared to browsing websites. With ChatGPT's language chops already baked at the heart of Apple Intelligence, I won't be surprised if the next-gen Shortcuts app exploits it to the fullest. Oh hey, here's a sample Talking about ChatGPT and its integration with iOS, there's already an open-source project out there that can give a rough idea of how voice commands turn into actions on an iPhone. Rounak Jain, an iOS engineer at OpenAI, has created an AI agent that transforms audio prompts into actions on an iPhone. 🚨🤖 Today, I'm launching an AI agent that gets things done across iPhone apps. It's powered by OpenAI GPT 4.1 and is open source. Try it out! — Rounak Jain (@r0unak) June 1, 2025 Jain says the demo video is built atop OpenAI's GPT-4.1 AI model, and it can get work done across multiple apps with a single voice command. For example, users can control the flashlight after sliding down the control center, click and send a picture to one of their contacts, or text travel details and book a cab. Jain's demo is a clear sign that integrating an AI model at the system level, or having it perform tasks across apps, is feasible. A similar pipeline can be integrated to turn those voice commands into shortcuts, instead of executing them immediately. I am just hoping that when Apple implements AI within Shortcuts and lets users create their own routines with natural language commands, it offers a flow where users have the flexibility to modify them at will. I believe the best approach would be to show users the chain of commands and let them make adjustments before the prompt is turned into a shortcut.
Time Business News
9 hours ago
- Time Business News
The Rise of Mobile Gaming: Why Everyone's Playing on Their Phones
In the last decade, mobile gaming has transformed from a niche pastime into a global phenomenon. More people than ever before are gaming on their phones, whether it's during a commute, in a waiting room, or simply relaxing at home. This rise is fueled by advancements in smartphone technology, the convenience of mobile platforms, and an ever-expanding variety of games catering to all ages and interests. If you haven't already explored this booming world, it's easy to start — just click Now to jump into popular titles like Roblox and discover why mobile gaming is the future. Mobile gaming began with simple, pixelated games like Snake and Tetris, which were pre-installed on early cell phones. As smartphones evolved, so did their capability to support more complex and engaging games. The introduction of touchscreen technology, faster processors, and larger storage spaces allowed developers to create visually stunning and interactive games. Today, mobile games range from casual puzzle games and multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBAs) to immersive role-playing games (RPGs) and realistic sports simulators. The App Store and Google Play Store each host millions of games, making mobile gaming one of the most diverse and accessible entertainment options. Several factors explain why mobile gaming has surged in popularity worldwide: Unlike traditional gaming platforms such as consoles or PCs, mobile phones are always within reach. This convenience allows users to play games anytime and anywhere without additional equipment. Whether it's a five-minute break or a long trip, mobile gaming fits seamlessly into daily routines. Many mobile games use a free-to-play model, enabling users to download and play without any initial cost. Monetization typically comes through microtransactions, such as buying cosmetic items or unlocking new features. This model lowers the barrier to entry and encourages a broad player base. Mobile games often incorporate social features that allow players to connect with friends or meet new people worldwide. Games like Fortnite Mobile and PUBG Mobile have thriving communities, making gaming a shared social experience rather than a solitary one. Mobile games frequently receive updates with new content, challenges, and seasonal events. This constant innovation keeps players engaged and excited about returning to the game. The rise of mobile gaming has had a profound effect on the overall gaming industry: Revenue Growth : Mobile gaming generates billions of dollars in revenue annually, surpassing traditional gaming platforms in some regions. : Mobile gaming generates billions of dollars in revenue annually, surpassing traditional gaming platforms in some regions. New Opportunities for Developers : Indie developers can easily enter the market and reach millions through mobile platforms. : Indie developers can easily enter the market and reach millions through mobile platforms. Cross-Platform Gaming: Many popular games now support cross-platform play, allowing users to play across mobile, console, and PC seamlessly. Certain games have been instrumental in pushing mobile gaming into the mainstream. Titles like PUBG Mobile, Among Us, Candy Crush Saga, and Clash of Clans have attracted massive global audiences. Another standout is Roblox, a unique platform where users can create and play games made by others, fostering creativity and community interaction. If you want to dive into the Roblox universe, click Now to get started. Mobile esports is rapidly growing, with competitive tournaments and leagues drawing millions of viewers. Games like Mobile Legends and Call of Duty Mobile are building their own professional circuits. This growth opens new career paths for gamers and creates entertainment value similar to traditional sports. Looking ahead, several trends suggest mobile gaming will continue to expand: Cloud gaming technology allows users to stream high-quality games without needing powerful hardware. This will enable even more sophisticated titles to run smoothly on mobile devices. Games utilizing AR and VR technology, such as Pokémon Go, provide immersive experiences blending the real world with the digital. These innovations will likely become more prevalent in mobile gaming. Artificial intelligence can tailor gaming experiences to individual players' preferences, enhancing engagement and satisfaction. The rollout of 5G networks means faster, more reliable internet connections, which support real-time multiplayer games and reduce latency. Mobile gaming offers entertainment that fits into busy modern lives, delivering fun, social interaction, and sometimes even education. Whether you're a casual player or a dedicated gamer, the mobile platform has something for everyone. Plus, the barrier to entry is low — no expensive consoles or gaming PCs are needed. For those ready to explore, platforms like Roblox offer endless creative possibilities, allowing players to build and share their own game worlds. To start your adventure, just click Now and see what the hype is about. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
