No Doubt, a band who hasn’t released an album since 2001, is suing Activision because they aren’t happy with the way they’re portrayed in the just-released Band Hero.
In the lawsuit, filed on November 4th in Los Angeles Superior Court, Gwen Stefani and the rest claim that Band Hero “transformed No Doubt band members into a virtual karaoke circus act” and further claims that Activision violated the terms of their contract by using the band in more than just the three songs that were licensed to the game.
According to the lawsuit, the game’s ‘Character Manipulation Feature’, allows for the avatars of Gwen Stefani and Tony Kanal to sing along to songs that aren’t by the band. One example used was Gwen Stefani singing the Rolling Stones classic “Honkey Tonk Women”.
While No Doubt are avid fans of the Rolling Stones and even have performed in concerts with the Rolling Stones, the Character Manipulation Feature results in an unauthorized performance by the Gwen Stefani avatar in a male voice boasting about having sex with prostitutes.
While the imagery is hilarious, I’m still in shock over the fact that there is a non-teeny bop song in Band Hero…although it does have Bowie, and I loves me some Bowie. Anyways, the complaint continues:
Activision has deceived and confused the public into believing that No Doubt authorized the use of its name and likeness for the Character Manipulation Feature of Band Hero and that No Doubt approves and endorses the appearance of its members individually performing songs that are wholly inappropriate and out of character for No Doubt
…I can’t quite put my finger on it, but something about that statement is eye-roll-inducingly absurd.
This of course mirrors a similar incident from Kurt Cobain murderer* Courtney Love, who in September threatened to “sue the shit” out of Activision for their use of Cobain’s likeness (look here). Activision took the contract Love signed, rolled it up real tight and smacked her across the face with it to show that Activision was well within their rights.
I expect the same to happen here.
*Allegedly
I have followed this with great interest and, in reading the actual complaint, it seems like the band is saying they got paid to perform 3 songs and actision, once they had them in their digital grip put them in 65. Seems reasonable they would cry foul
Note the complaint also says they cannot break the band apart of use them individually…that is in the contract.