NEWSNo Doubt Has Plenty of Doubts Over Band Hero Game
Nov. 4 2009, Published 12:01 p.m. ET
Gwen Stefani and her bandmates in No Doubt have more than a few worries when it comes to their videogame likenesses: TMZ reports that the group is suing the makers of "Band Hero," saying they were only supposed to use their images to sing three No Doubt songs, and that Gwen's digital self acts in a manner unbefitting to the mom of two.
The lawsuit, filed in L.A. County Superior Court, claims the game makers, Activision, "transformed No Doubt band members into a virtual karaoke circus act" by having them "sing, dance and perform over sixty songs."
Another thing making them mad? Gwen's image can be made to sing in a male voice to "Honky Tonk Woman" by the Rolling Stones, a song which includes lyrics about "having sex with prostitutes."
No Doubt wants an injunction banning "the unauthorized use of the No Doubt's name and likeness" in the game, as well as unspecified damages.
A rep from Activision tells TMZ: "Activision has a written agreement to use No Doubt in Band Hero – an agreement signed by No Doubt after extensive negotiations with its representatives, who collectively have decades of experience in the entertainment industry ...
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... Activision believes it is within its legal rights with respect to the use and portrayal of the band members in the game and that this lawsuit is without merit."
No Doubt isn't the first group to protest against Activision: In September, after Kurt Cobain's likeness was used in Guitar Hero 5, his widow Courtney Love, along with former Nirvana bandmates Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic complained, saying the game put him in front of other bands. Activision claimed that they'd gotten written permission from Courtney to use Kurt's image as a character. She fired back via Twitter, saying she "never signed off on the avatar."
