In a stunning twist, the breakdancing fail heard round the world at the Paris Olympic Games has sparked an unexpected surge of creativity in the comedy scene. Rachael “Raygun” Gunn, whose unconventional moves at the Olympics went viral for all the wrong reasons, now finds herself at the center of a new wave of musical parodies – and a legal battle over intellectual property rights.
Breakdancing Blunder Births Comedy Gold
When Raygun’s Olympic dreams were dashed by judges unimpressed with her signature “kangaroo style” dancing, comedians saw an opportunity. Leading the charge was Steph Broadbridge, who quickly penned a parody musical called Raygun: The Musical, featuring a cheeky silhouette of Gunn’s infamous moves.
Excitement was high for the musical’s Sydney premiere – until Raygun’s lawyers crashed the party. In a notice to the comedy club hosting the show, they argued that the production infringed on Gunn’s “exclusive intellectual property rights in the RAYGUN brand” and demanded $10,000 in legal fees.
“The musical is sold out, which is directly attributable to our client’s popularity. The ticket sales are clearly a result of our client’s influence and recognition”
– Excerpt from legal notice sent by Raygun’s lawyers
Parody Prevails In New “Completely Legal” Musical
Undeterred, Broadbridge bounced back with a rebranded show cheekily titled Breaking The Musical. Billed as a “completely legal parody musical”, the new production promises a “fictional telling of a moment in Australian history” inspired by, in the comedian’s words, “stuff I read on the internet”.
In a video response, Gunn insisted the legal action was “never about the money” but rather about controlling her brand and image. She claimed the original musical title and marketing caused confusion and damaged her relationships.
“It in no way mimics Aboriginal dance. It was instead inspired by the Australian Olympic mascot, BK, the boxing kangaroo, and I wanted to represent and celebrate that spirit”
– Raygun addressing misconceptions about her dance style
Fair Use or Copyright Infringement?
The Raygun debacle highlights the tricky balance between an artist’s right to protect their brand and the right to free speech and parody. While Broadbridge admits she did not seek Gunn’s approval for the original poster and title, she maintains her work falls under fair use as a satirical commentary.
- Fair use allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes like criticism, parody, news reporting, research and scholarship
- Parody is a work that humorously imitates or mocks another, usually well-known, work by using similar characters, plot, or style
Much of the legal wrangling centers around Gunn’s claim to have trademarked her “now famous kangaroo silhouette pose” – the centerpiece of Broadbridge’s initial marketing. But does a dance move, no matter how iconic, warrant copyright protection?
The Show Must Go On
As Breaking The Musical readies for its Adelaide debut, the clumsy clash between a breakdancer and a comedian has ignited an intriguing dialogue about the boundaries between intellectual property, parody, and the wild world of internet memes.
Can a punchline pirouette past a copyright claim? How much does an embarrassing public moment belong to the subject versus the meme-makers? The answers remain as elusive as Raygun’s points on the Olympic scorecard – but one thing is certain: in the age of viral fame, Yesterday’s flops are destined to become tomorrow’s parody fodder.
