No Doubt has filed suit against the video-game company Activision over the use of its band member’s avatars in the just-released Guitar Hero variant Band Hero, thanks to the ability for players to put Gwen Stefani through the paces of the hooker-glorifying “Honky Tonk Women.” Also, bassist Tony Kamal can be cross-dressed into singing “Just A Girl.” This usage of Stefani’s and Kamal’s likenesses, the suit claims, “transformed No Doubt band members into a virtual karaoke circus act.” Uh, hang on a second, I thought the utterly superfluous Talk Talk cover accomplished that task way back in 2003? [AP]
This is actually a better case than the Courtney threat over Kurt’s avatar, because it removes all of the extraneous baggage from the dispute — Cobain as true-believer of non-commercial rock; Love as misguided rock-star widow — and boils it down to a valid question of the rights of public figures and the use of one’s likeness.
I actually side with the artists on this one, despite my normal technophilic leanings.
@Chris Molanphy: How is this different than licensing a doll of yourself and then having the little girl (or boy) who bought you make you wear a dress? I think we’d all agree that if Christian Bale found out someone did something like that with a Bruce Wayne figure, no one would be on his side.
Just because the technology is there to limit this, *should* it be limited?
And just to drive the point home, No Doubt have licensed dolls of themselves. So STFU guys and enjoy your (extra) money.
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