No Doubt Sues Activision Over Band Hero
Posted by Trace Aber on 11.05.2009
Because there just aren't enough lawsuits nowadays.
Apparently never having played a music game before, No Doubt is reportedly extremely upset about their portrayal in Band Hero. "The band [members] are bitterly disappointed that their name and likeness was taken and used without their permission," No Doubt manager Jim Guerinot said, according to the LA 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."
Feeling as though they've been turned into a "virtual karaoke circus act," the band is seeking damages and a temporary restraining order, as well as a recall for all remaining copies of the game. Activision countered the suit, unsurprisingly, saying that it "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".
Along with the Courtney Love threatening to sue Activision earlier in the year for Kurt Cobain's appearance in Guitar Hero 5, do you feel these lawsuits are ridiculous and that the bands should probably look into the games before signing on to appear in them?
Maybe Activision should start letting bands know directly that if they allow their likenesses to be used in the game, they're going to be able to be used for any song. I'm sure it's somewhere in the contract, so the bands aren't totally without fault, but this is the second time this has happened. I imagine it's something not explicitly stated, but maybe it should be if the artists (most of whom are extremely protective of their art) are going to keep suing if they see their virtual dopplegangers singing "Kung-Fu Fighting" or somesuch.
Posted By: Speedy Gill-zales (Guest) on November 05, 2009 at 03:16 PM
Whine, Bitch, Complain, Moan.
Posted By: Mr. Mack (Guest) on November 06, 2009 at 01:29 AM
boo fucking hoo. honestly, when they agreed for their 'likeness' to appear in a music game, did they just expect that they would only appear for 3 songs? and what the hell was with the 'broke the band up' bit? are they implying that a member of no doubt could perform with other people on a digital stage? they should get over themselves. Slash and Tom Morello weren't suing activisin left and right when they appeared in Guitar Hero 3 playing 'Sabotage'. The Beatles got a good deal with Harmonix, since their songs are never sung by anyone but the digital beatles and the digital beatles sure as hell aren't going to sing 'Enter Sandman', you can't even get Ringo do lead vocals on songs he hasn't done! they absolutely won't allow that!
Posted By: Rock Stars are Assholes (Guest) on November 06, 2009 at 05:21 AM
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