The multi-platinum rock band No Doubt has filed a lawsuit against Activision in a L.A. County Superior Court claiming its likeness was "transformed" into a "virtual karaoke circus act" in over sixty songs in the recently released music title, Band Hero. According to TMZ, No Doubt claims gamers were only supposed to be able to use their likeness with three of its own tracks; however, the band is available as playable characters through the game's entire music catalog.
Of particular note is lead singer Gwen Stefani's displeasure that her likeness can be used to sing "Honky Tonk Woman" by the Rolling Stones -- a song which references sex with prostitutes -- using a male voice and mannerisms. For its "circus act" inclusion, No Doubt is seeking an injunction to halt the "unauthorized use" of the band's name and likeness, as well as an unknown amount of damages (aka mad monies). Seems like Activision can't keep rock stars happy, dead or alive.
[Via TeamXbox]
Reader Comments (89)
Posted: Nov 4th 2009 6:45PM Troy Powers said
I downloaded the greatest hits album for Rock Band.
And I'd do it again!
And, yes, I rock out singing "Just A Girl."
Reply
And I'd do it again!
And, yes, I rock out singing "Just A Girl."
Posted: Nov 7th 2009 12:25PM ZeroCorpse said
Oh, so when Courtney Love makes the same basic claims, everyone calls her greedy and crazy, but when Gwen "baby voice" Stefani does it, you're all on her side?
Hypocrites, much?
Reply
Hypocrites, much?
Posted: Nov 4th 2009 4:43PM Shagittarius said
I think that her likeness performing a Mic Jagger song would be the best thing that ever happened to a no talent piece of ass like Gwen Steffani.
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Posted: Nov 4th 2009 5:32PM Shagittarius said
How come most gamers have such terrible taste in music? Have the game sound tracks rotted their brains?
Reply
Posted: Nov 4th 2009 4:44PM (Unverified) said
No Doubt should change their name to,
Gwen Stefani and Rejects,
cuz I aint no Hollaback Girls
Reply
Gwen Stefani and Rejects,
cuz I aint no Hollaback Girls
Posted: Nov 4th 2009 4:46PM Ballistic3188 said
if she signed the same sheet of paper that courtney love did. I think you pretty much lost this one.
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Posted: Nov 4th 2009 4:46PM fadeoutagain2784 said
Now I must see a video of gameplay with Gwen Stefani singing Honky Tonk Woman - that just makes me laugh inside.
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Posted: Nov 4th 2009 6:07PM fadeoutagain2784 said
That's extremely disappointing to me if it's true. :-(
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Posted: Nov 4th 2009 4:46PM Punkrawk Bbob said
Guess Courtney might not be as crazy as we all thought, eh?
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Posted: Nov 4th 2009 4:57PM (Unverified) said
Oh no, Courtney is just as crazy as we all thought, if not crazier. She's also a pathetic attention-whore. Hence, her frivolous lawsuit. It's actually kind of fitting that Gwen Stefani now has an identical case, 'cause she's one of the few people on this planet who gets on my nerves as much as Courtney Love. Maybe Kanye will sue Activision next, and make it a douchebags-wasting-legal-manhours trifecta!
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Posted: Nov 4th 2009 5:52PM WiredKnight said
It makes me wonder why Tom Morello or Slash never had any issues with it.
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Posted: Nov 4th 2009 8:21PM RodrigoCard said
The only problem is singing with other people voices...
playing instruments in any other music never makes you look ridiculous!
Reply
playing instruments in any other music never makes you look ridiculous!
Posted: Nov 4th 2009 4:49PM (Unverified) said
I wonder what the contract says about where the images can be used in the game. If they were paid for the use of their likeness and it doesn't specify where or how often, I think No Doubt, without a doubt, is out of luck.
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Posted: Nov 4th 2009 6:29PM aristokrat said
This thread is full of hate on Gwen Stefani, but this emerging trend of people claiming that their likenesses were used in ways that don't jive with the contracts starts pointing the finger at Activision. I was all too happy to rag on Love last time, but the more prevalent this becomes, maybe it's actually a big case of contract violation.
And come on guys, you don't think Kotick would do something sleazy like this? He has a record of fondness for exploitation, so why is this so unbelievable? I bet he thought these "dumbass" artists would never find out about what he was doing and he thought he could get away with because he thought it was a feature "dumbass" gamers wanted. He thinks he's the smartest guy in the room, but it's all going to come crashing down eventually.
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And come on guys, you don't think Kotick would do something sleazy like this? He has a record of fondness for exploitation, so why is this so unbelievable? I bet he thought these "dumbass" artists would never find out about what he was doing and he thought he could get away with because he thought it was a feature "dumbass" gamers wanted. He thinks he's the smartest guy in the room, but it's all going to come crashing down eventually.
Posted: Nov 4th 2009 6:32PM aristokrat said
And to clarify my point, it's also possible that Activision misrepresented the case to the artists. Perhaps their reps told the artists directly that one thing would happen, drew up a contract stating another thing, and the artists' lawyers didn't know there was a difference between what the artist had agreed verbally to and what was now in print.
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Posted: Nov 4th 2009 4:50PM (Unverified) said
Sounds like Gwen's running out of money to me. Does it really matter what song her video game character sings? It's a bloody video game!! It really annoys me when people take these things so seriously.
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Posted: Nov 4th 2009 5:01PM (Unverified) said
well you forgot to say chuck "if you were someone famous"
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Posted: Nov 4th 2009 5:50PM WiredKnight said
Like it or not, their music is their livelihood. They would be remiss to _not_ take it seriously.
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Posted: Nov 4th 2009 6:44PM (Unverified) said
Dude, if you had a band would you like your likeness to singing Fallout Boy's songs?
....
Think about it.
Reply
....
Think about it.
Posted: Nov 4th 2009 4:52PM KungFuChaosNinja said
Gwen Stefani is hot, Bobby Kotick is not.
No Doubt vs. Acitivision. Take 'em down, No Doubt!
Reply
No Doubt vs. Acitivision. Take 'em down, No Doubt!
Posted: Nov 4th 2009 4:59PM (Unverified) said
While Gwen is certainly hotter than Bobby Kotick, she also isn't nearly as hot as she thinks she is.
And she's incredibly irritating, which is always a hotness-killer. In my opinion, that is.
Reply
And she's incredibly irritating, which is always a hotness-killer. In my opinion, that is.
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