Activision may have dusted its hands of Guitar Hero, Band Hero and everything else from that played-out lead mine, but lawsuits from upset pop stars continue. No Doubt, featured in Band Hero, still plans on taking Activision to trial, saying the publisher has illegitimately delayed the lawsuit and made insulting settlement offers.
No Doubt, an act comprising Gwen Stefani and some dudes no one can name, sued Activision because Band Hero turned them into “a virtual karaoke circus act”, performing other artists’ songs and even — gasp — “secretly” hiring actors to perform dance moves no one in the band had ever done before. The complaint mimics that of renowned widow Courtney Love, upset that Kurt Cobain and Nirvana performed non-Kurt Cobain and Nirvana songs in Guitar Hero 5.
“We don’t licence the use of our songs and our appearances for free,” No Doubt’s lawyer-mans told GameSpot. “Here, we licensed No Doubt’s appearance for three songs, but Activision instead used it in 63 unpermitted songs.” Activision claims the use was allowable under the terms of the contract signed back in 2009.
Asked what the band seeks from the lawsuit, he said, “Ideally they would like Activision to apologise and promise to never mistreat artists in the manner they have mistreated No Doubt and countless others.” Given the death of the Hero music franchise more than 18 months ago, I think that statement really translates to: “a shitload of money.”
No Doubt attorney speaks out against Activision in Band Hero suit [GameSpot]
Image: AP
Leave a Reply