Back in 1993, Michael Jackson—not just a music legend but also a creative innovator—filed a U.S. patent for specially designed shoes that allowed him to execute his now-famous 45° lean during live performances of Smooth Criminal History by MailSnopesWikipedia.
What Did the Patent Cover?
The patented system, officially titled “Method and Means for Creating Anti-Gravity Illusion” (U.S. Patent 5,255,452), was developed by Jackson along with Michael Bush and Dennis Tompkins, who were central figures in designing many of his iconic outfits.
It described a clever mechanism: shoes with a specially crafted heel slot that could engage with retractable pegs protruding from the stage floor. At the perfect moment, the pegs would rise, locking into the shoe and anchoring the performer, enabling him to lean forward well past his center of gravity — an illusion of defying gravity that was safe and stage-ready.
Prior to this, Jackson achieved the lean only in music videos using cables and a harness. But that system was impractical on stage—cables tangled and restricted movement. The patented shoes fixed that perfectly for live shows Google PatentsSnopes.
Why It’s So Brilliant
- Ingenious Stage Innovation: Instead of patenting a dance move (which isn’t generally patentable), Jackson patented the technology that allowed the move — a savvy and forward-thinking approach.
- Seamless Performance: The stage floor pegs could retract invisibly after use, ensuring nothing interfered with the performance before or after the lean.
- A New Kind of Patent Holder: Few music icons ever hold patents—but here’s Michael Jackson breaking the mold, blending art and invention in a truly unique way Invention Museumambadar.com.
What Fans Say
One Reddit user summed it up:
“Michael Jackson had a patent on the shoes he used in Smooth Criminal, the ones that allowed him to lean forward at a 45° angle.” Reddit
And Wired’s fansite section noted how the shoes “hook into the ground from below,” enabling a move that’s “way beyond what is reasonable or possible” without falling WIRED.
The Bigger Picture
This patent exemplifies how intellectual property can intersect with creativity. Choreography alone might be unprotected, but by packaging the performance in a technical innovation, Jackson secured legal protection for the effect itself. It’s a clever example of how artistic vision and engineering can intertwine to create something lasting and legally unique Alessandri Abogados.
