Following in the footsteps of Courtney Love’s complaints concerning the use of Kurt Cobain’s likeness in Guitar Hero 5, The L.A. Times music blog is reporting that the band members of No Doubt are suing Activision because their character models are used to play other musicians' songs in Band Hero. The lawsuit was filed today in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of members Gwen Stefani, Tom Dumont, Tony Kanal, and Adrian Young.“The band [members] are bitterly disappointed that their name and likeness was taken and used without their permission,” manager Jim Guerinot said to the Times. “They agreed to play three No Doubt songs as a band...Activision then went and put them in 62 other songs and broke the band up [and] never even asked.”In addition to claiming that Activision “transformed No Doubt band members into a virtual karaoke circus act,” Stefani specifically disapproves of singing the Rolling Stones’ “*** Tonk Woman” saying in the filing that “the Character Manipulation Feature results in an unauthorized performance by the Gwen Stefani avatar in a male voice boasting about having sex with prostitutes.”The suit claims that Activision concealed the fact that the No Doubt character models would appear in other artists’ songs and that the game publisher refused to disable the feature once the band became aware of it, saying the change would be “too expensive.”The suit requests an unspecified monetary compensation, a halt to Band Hero’s sales at retailers, and a complete recall of copies of the game sold.Game Informer has contacted Activision in regards to the lawsuit and has yet to receive a response. We’ll update the post as soon as we hear anything. In the meantime, check out our review of the game.
[UPDATE]
Activision has provided the following statement regarding the No Doubt lawsuit:
"Some of the world’s most popular and iconic artists have been featured in Guitar Hero as playable characters, and we are proud to count No Doubt among them. Activision has a written agreement to use No Doubt in Band Hero – an agreement signed by No Doubt after extensive negotiations with its representatives, who collectively have decades of experience in the entertainment industry. Pursuant to that agreement, Activision worked with No Doubt and the band’s management in developing Band Hero. As a result, Activision believes it is within its legal rights with respect to the use and portrayal of the band members in the game and that this lawsuit is without merit. Activision is exploring its own legal options with respect to No Doubt’s obligations under the agreement."
This all sounds so stupid, they should be happy that they even got in the game. Not every band was put in the game!
In other words, "Filthy Rich Bands Sues To Elevate Themselves To 'Filthier Rich'"
are you serious!? what the F*uck is wrong with them!? the game is fun, and they should be happy they are in the game. is not like they are angels, i bet those 4 persons already had sex( im pretty sure) did drugs.
so they are getting pissed cuz their character sings a song about sex? get out of here with that, they just want money..... they make me sick.
Yup. Definitely heard this story before. It honestly would be a better idea to make the characters exclusive to their respective songs, and anyone who wants to change that can do it with the character customization option. That would save Activision a whole lot of lawsuits.
Again?
I am SURE it was somewhere in their contract, Activision with all of its court experience wouldn't overlook something like that. They should be glad that their mediocre music made it into a guitar hero game in the first place.
I guess the entire 1990s will probably sue Activision before this is done.
Wow. I can sorta understand them asking for money, but a complete recall of the game? That seems excessive.
Heh heh, someone's not a No Doubt fan. It's okay, I don't really like 'em either.
@Meagan
Ya I honestly didn't really think they had that much pride to recall the game a day after it's release...they must really want to stop it's progress.
Well I'm not sure they understand the implications that action has. To them, it's "Just redo it without us". It's very easy. They don't get the process involved and money lost from doing a recall. As you say, quite excessive.
I can actually understand this. Music is art, and they agreed to let them use their likenesses on THEIR OWN SONGS, not anyone elses.
If Gwen Stefani felt like singing a song about having sex with women, she would probably do it.
@Fabian: Learn to spell. And, how about you agree to let me use your likeness in a movie, telling you that you would be portraying a badass ninja, only to take that character and show him engaging in homosexual activities with other bad-ass ninjas?
"the Character Manipulation Feature results in an unauthorized performance by the Gwen Stefani avatar in a male voice boasting about having sex with prostitutes."
At this point, I think I've seen it all...
@Thedeadestspace
Happens all the time, it's called the nightly news. It just may not always involve homosexual badass ninjas.
The concept of art vs. advertisement has always been something you'll never be able to draw a definitive line for. They signed their name on a contract allowing a digital media company use their likenesses for the company's product. They are just angry that they didn't get more out of it because of the "unauthorized performance" of someone's avatar. The whole lawsuit is a joke.
I'm sure Activision is seriously regretting ever using any music artist's likeness in their games. With how it's back-fired with both hero games, I'd be surprised if they ever did it again.
And yes, it's a money grab by a band that's no longer relevant.
I hope they win. If it means that just one of the myriad ____ Hero games get's taken off shelves then I'm all for it. I lose respect for Activision with every day that passes.
I think this lawsuit is ridiculous. Guitar Hero is several years old, and if they agreed for their likeness to be in the game, they should have known what the gameplay is like.
kinda seems like a jerk move to recall all of the copies. And stop sales. But hey, my likeness ain't being stolen so I don't know.
I can see where they are coming from with this one, especially if the whole bands involved. They will probably win some of their demands because they supposedly pulled the wool over not one person but four people, and with the whole Nirvana issue already there, they got the repeated offense thing on their side. I don't know the band but it would be better if all of them knew what they were getting into...
The Spin Doctors are pissed at Activision too, but it's just because they can't be taking $120 out of their Cracker Barrel paychecks for video games.
Do they pay attention to what they're signing up to do? I don't understand how this stuff can still happen....