Activision is no stranger to lawsuits like Levine's, losing a similar case to No Doubt in 2010 (Talk about jumping on the Bandwagon late).
Maroon 5 singer sues Activision over use of likeness in Band Hero
by Jessica Conditt 
on Aug 5th 2011 5:00PM
57
Activision is no stranger to lawsuits like Levine's, losing a similar case to No Doubt in 2010 (Talk about jumping on the Bandwagon late).
Reader Comments (57)
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 5:01PM Faenix said
It took him 2 years to sue?
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 5:06PM psyXcho said
one of the 3 people who played Band Hero must have finally told him he was in it :D
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 5:08PM Shadowbender said
Stupid.
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 5:08PM MSKiller aka Sony4life said
Just make some more pussy ass songs and you'll be fine, dude!
Posted: Aug 6th 2011 1:50AM MSKiller aka Sony4life said
@FakeKevinButler
It was a damn joke, I actually like a couple of their songs and I bought A Little of Your Time for RB3.
Reply
It was a damn joke, I actually like a couple of their songs and I bought A Little of Your Time for RB3.
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 5:09PM Dale P said
If I was the writer or original performer of the other songs in the game, I'd also sue for the use of this douchebag's likeness.
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 5:11PM FakeKevinButler said
Maroon 5 = your little sister's favorite band three years ago
Ms. Conditt is cracking me up.
Ms. Conditt is cracking me up.
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 5:11PM Rocket Raccoon said
But really... Why is he suing two years later?
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 10:47PM KyGuyTC7 said
@Rocket Raccoon
I remember this happening before (with guitar hero 3 the other year), it may have been Slash who sued. I believe there is some kind of benefit to the artists waiting the extra time to sue, I'm not well read enough to know why but possibly the artists are entitled to a chunk of the profit from every unit sold so its in their best interest to wait, or something like that.
Reply
I remember this happening before (with guitar hero 3 the other year), it may have been Slash who sued. I believe there is some kind of benefit to the artists waiting the extra time to sue, I'm not well read enough to know why but possibly the artists are entitled to a chunk of the profit from every unit sold so its in their best interest to wait, or something like that.
Posted: Aug 6th 2011 3:36AM Rocket Raccoon said
@KyGuyTC7
I guess there must be some sort of benefit. A chunk of the profits makes sense.
Reply
I guess there must be some sort of benefit. A chunk of the profits makes sense.
Posted: Aug 8th 2011 1:56PM Protege420 said
@KyGuyTC7
well if thats true he needs to wait alot longer becuase this gaem TANKED big time
Reply
well if thats true he needs to wait alot longer becuase this gaem TANKED big time
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 5:11PM TheShaper said
Ya know, just came up with a game idea: it's called "Ultimate Lawsuit Commando" and you get to sue anyone over anything. It's gonna be a hit!
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 5:18PM ItsameMatt03 said
Maroon 5 blows.
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 5:22PM FriedConsole said
I would think he would want his likeness in the game. When people play it in 10 years people can be like "oh yeah remember Maroon 5"? And then in 1000 years after civilization is destroyed archeologists will find a Band Hero game pop it into a PS49949 (only very early versions of the PS49949 will be backwards compatible) and future civilizations will think Maroon 5 was one of the great bands of the century.
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 6:02PM Metalfacedoom said
@FriedConsole most heinous dude!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jgAnhDEUN4&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Reply
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jgAnhDEUN4&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 5:23PM Spartan050 said
They used your likeness. Cry me a river bitch!!
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 5:24PM AZPuck98 said
Jack Donaghy over at NBC told him to do it so we can be bombarded with "The Voice" as a video game franchise.
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 5:35PM lonecow said
So a guy who looks like a generic video game character IRL sues because he looks like a generic video game character?
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 5:57PM oO Wallace Oo said
@lonecow
Ahhhh Mr Levine here tradmarked placing his left hand in the unused microphone stand while singing, had Activision used the avatars right hand there would be no suit here.
Reply
Ahhhh Mr Levine here tradmarked placing his left hand in the unused microphone stand while singing, had Activision used the avatars right hand there would be no suit here.
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 5:41PM SpaceFox said
Lol you guys are so stupid. Doesn't matter who it is, if he didn't give permission to use his likeness beyond that one song he has every right to sue.
The fact that it's 2 years later is kinda jarring but eh.
The fact that it's 2 years later is kinda jarring but eh.
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 6:53PM jrr said
@SpaceFox
Congrats! You win the "Most Reasonable Comment of the Day" award!
Personally, I'd be pretty pissed off I allowed my likeness to be used for something specific by a company and they decided to just go and use it however they want. The fact that this guy's in some lame band I don't care about shouldn't mean it's alright for him to get screwed over.
Reply
Congrats! You win the "Most Reasonable Comment of the Day" award!
Personally, I'd be pretty pissed off I allowed my likeness to be used for something specific by a company and they decided to just go and use it however they want. The fact that this guy's in some lame band I don't care about shouldn't mean it's alright for him to get screwed over.
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 6:54PM neojames82 said
@SpaceFox Just because you are right, does not make you look any less of a douche bag.
Reply
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 5:48PM Startingline13 ArmlessOctopus said
The larger part is the precedent it sets (just as with the No Doubt case).
They paid him for his likeness for that particular song. That was all.
They then used it in additional work. So they are making millions off of a title, some of which is based on your work, and you don't receive compensation.
What his argument is, is the fact that others were also called in to do work, paid additional funds to use their likeness in other ways, but he was not.
Sounds fair to me, at least his argument.
They paid him for his likeness for that particular song. That was all.
They then used it in additional work. So they are making millions off of a title, some of which is based on your work, and you don't receive compensation.
What his argument is, is the fact that others were also called in to do work, paid additional funds to use their likeness in other ways, but he was not.
Sounds fair to me, at least his argument.
Posted: Aug 6th 2011 12:54PM Deftinwolf said
@Startingline13 ArmlessOctopus
I thank you for having the mind of a smart human being. Obviously these people don't understand that in our shoes, I would take that money and run.
Reply
I thank you for having the mind of a smart human being. Obviously these people don't understand that in our shoes, I would take that money and run.
Posted: Aug 6th 2011 1:24PM Startingline13 ArmlessOctopus said
@Deftinwolf
I agree. I think the issue is that 95% of the people on here don't understand the problem at hand.
The guy did some work. They said his work would be used in (X) manner, and no other way. The company then took his work, used it in (X) manner, and then some, without notifying or paying him.
It's your work, and you want to get compensated for it.
Reply
I agree. I think the issue is that 95% of the people on here don't understand the problem at hand.
The guy did some work. They said his work would be used in (X) manner, and no other way. The company then took his work, used it in (X) manner, and then some, without notifying or paying him.
It's your work, and you want to get compensated for it.
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 5:49PM ZachFACEyay said
Hey.....that guy vaguely looks like me. SUE!!!!
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 6:05PM aussieCanuck said
jeeze you guys have nerd rage on here.... he is in a successful band, makes millions and gets hot chicks. He found a way to make more by suing someone with a solid argument...... i'm pretty sure anyone would take the easy money :S
Posted: Aug 6th 2011 12:48PM Deftinwolf said
@Leach
You obviously don't know women. These guys have made music that makes women swoon. He's a good looking guy that women are attracted to. If you think he's only going to attract anyone from 12 to 15 years old then you are on some drugs, either that or you are the ugliest bastard to walk the face of the planet as well as have some jealousy issues.
Reply
You obviously don't know women. These guys have made music that makes women swoon. He's a good looking guy that women are attracted to. If you think he's only going to attract anyone from 12 to 15 years old then you are on some drugs, either that or you are the ugliest bastard to walk the face of the planet as well as have some jealousy issues.
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 6:19PM RadioActiveLunch said
"Did the singer of Maroon 5 sue Activision?"
"No doubt!"
"No doubt!"
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 6:27PM trinica said
.....Has anyone else never heard of Band Hero?
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 6:48PM TubaDude49 said
It's not as bad as Cobain...
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 6:51PM neojames82 said
Hmmm, guess someone is strapped for cash, aren't they?
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 6:58PM Dooliss said
Who told him? Of the four people who played Band Hero, why would you choose a Maroon 5 song?
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 7:00PM Coldbrand said
The more money Activision loses, the better.
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 8:13PM Warlock234 said
Could this guy get any more full of himself? I would be honored to be copied into a game.
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 10:01PM Daniele said
i like maroon 5
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 11:06PM OrangeGamer said
Eh, don't care about either party. He knew what he was getting into signing a deal with El Diablo!
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 11:28PM Siphillis said
Right down to the tattoo, even. Maybe Neversoft was sticking it to Activision.
Posted: Aug 5th 2011 11:28PM Mastadon said
Another example of how greedy and egotistical music artists are.
Posted: Aug 6th 2011 10:18AM Tinkus said
Dude's in Maroon 5. Were I in his sappy-ass shoes, I'd take all the exposure I could get.
