I came to know that celebrities are suing certain video game studios. One of my friend said it was just a rumor. But I think it must be something related to right of publicity law. Can anyone please throw some light on this? Who are the celebrities and which are the video game studios sued?
Hello,
Video game is quite popular for every person in the world. It is also a great media to introduce yourself as a super natural human, to attract people more to you. That’s why I think, they’re suing to game studios.
Games are quite good for advertising, to attract people more to you. So, if you become a character in a game, you’re definitely good to be famous easily. Like, think of NFS Most Wanted. It contains lots of cars, its parts and other accessories. The companies have given money to develop the game, and the developers introduced their parts in the game. This game gained huge popularity, giving tremendous advantage to the car and accessories companies.
Thus, the celebrities are also willing to advertise themselves, earn much popularity.
Yes, that’s true. Some of the celebrities are really suing video game studios and it is because of the right of publicity law. The recent legal battle was between Lindsay Lohan and Rockstar Games, the creator of the newest game Grand Theft Auto V. The legal battle started on July 2014 when Lindsay Lohan sued Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive.
She said the character featured in the game Grand Theft Auto V was based on her 2004 comedy film Mean Girls. The suit was filed in the New York Supreme Court. Aside from the fact that the cover of the game resembles her character in the movie, the game itself obviously has similarities to the movie.
Aside from Lindsay Lohan, also in July, Manuel Noriega, a former Panamanian dictator filed a suit in California Superior Court against Activision Blizzard Inc., the creator of the game Call of Duty: Black Ops II. According to him, Activision Blizzard Inc. used his likeness in the game without asking permission.
Lindsay Lohan’s battle against Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive is ongoing while the case filed by Manuel Noriega has been dismissed.
