In 2014, actress Lindsay Lohan filed a suit against GTA publisher Take-Two for what she believed was an unauthorised depiction of her image in Grand Theft Auto V. She claimed she was even used in the game’s promotional materials. Today, however, the court tossed her suit.
Both Lohan and Mob Wives star Karen Gravano ended up filing suit, alleging that the game used their likenesses and violated their rights to privacy. At first, Lohan took aim at a character named Lacey Jonas, an anorexic actress who asks your characters to help her avoid paparazzi. Later, she claimed a bikini-clad character making a peace sign used in the game’s promo materials was also a representation of her likeness.
Gravano, whose father is a mob killer who ultimately cooperated with police, alleged that GTA V character Andrea Bottino incorporated elements of her likeness and story. Specifically, “that the character’s story about moving out west to safe houses mirrors Gravano’s fear of being ripped out of her former life and being sent to Nebraska; that the character’s story about dealing with the character’s father cooperating with the state government is the same as Gravano dealing with the repercussions of her father’s cooperation; and that the character’s father not letting the character do a reality show is the same as Gravano’s father publicly decrying her doing a reality show”.
Ultimately, however, a five-judge panel ruled that the suits were without merit because Lohan and Gravano’s actual names and images are not used in the game. Moreover, the court added that, even if they did accept Lohan and Gravano’s argument that the GTA characters were close enough to count as representations, “this video game’s unique story, characters, dialogue, and environment, combined with the player’s ability to choose how to proceed in the game, render it a work of fiction and satire” — granting it First Amendment protection.
Comments
11 responses to “Court Throws Out Lindsay Lohan’s Grand Theft Auto V Lawsuit”
I must need new glasses because I still cannot see Lohan copying the depiction is a match.
Either my glasses need new lenses or ….. I’m not an idiot!
Maybe new glasses either way 😛
Need new glasses and fresher coffee, 😛
Corrected. Thanks.
Maybe they used Lohan as an Verb; To Lohan is to be unable to comprehend the current situation. Which I think is a good match for Lindsay Lohan.
It should b e a new meme. But Lohan will just try to sue you.
You Don’t Mess with the Lohan?
I lol’ed
The thing I’m most disappointed about with this suit is that it wasn’t joined by politicians of either stripe complaining about being unfairly represented in the game.
Every. Single. Thing in the game is satire or parody, right down to the websites, product names, street/suburb names and billboards. You have to wonder how any plaintiff would not get that.
It was a ridiculous lawsuit basically wanting to trademark the classical icon of a blonde in a red bikini.
What a waste of time and money Lindsay.
what? they only did this now?
I srsly thought they had dismissed the case like a day after she tried?
If they were going to model an image in the game off a real life female, they’d have picked someone who’s actually attractive. Ol’ Lindsay gave herself too much credit here.