diff --git a/lib/MCT/Display/Object.js b/lib/MCT/Display/Object.js
index 3ec94b7..953b542 100644
--- a/lib/MCT/Display/Object.js
+++ b/lib/MCT/Display/Object.js
@@ -221,16 +221,16 @@ MCT.DisplayObject.prototype.createButton = function(options) {
 }
 
 MCT.DisplayObject.prototype.setInteraction = function(sprite, options) {
-  if (typeof options.action != "undefined" && typeof options.type != "undefined") {
+  if (options.element instanceof MCT.Element && typeof options.type != "undefined") {
     sprite.setInteractive(true);
+    var callback = function() {
+      options.element.dispatchEvent( { type: options.type, content: options.data } );
+    };
     switch (options.type) {
       case "click":
-        sprite.click = options.action;
+        sprite.click = callback;
         break;
     }
-    if (typeof options.data != "undefined") {
-      sprite.mctInteractionData = options.data;
-    }
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/MCT/Element.js b/lib/MCT/Element.js
index 69e65e7..86a64b6 100644
--- a/lib/MCT/Element.js
+++ b/lib/MCT/Element.js
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ MCT.Element = function(name) {
   this.name = name || "random" + Math.floor(Math.random() * 1000);
   this.grid = null;
   this.layout = null;
+  // use pixi event target to handle display object interaction events
+  // see -> https://github.com/MKelm/pixi.js/blob/dev/src/pixi/utils/EventTarget.js
+  PIXI.EventTarget.call(this);
 }
 
 MCT.Element.prototype.constructor = MCT.Element;
\ No newline at end of file