No Doubt sue Band Hero over in-game characters

Published: Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:01:01

US band No Doubt are suing the creators of the Guitar Hero franchise over the use of their likenesses in the Band Hero spin-off. In a suit filed in Los Angeles superior court on Wednesday, the Don't Speak act claimed game developers Activision did not honour an agreement originally signed with the band. No Doubt's legal action follows recent threats of legal action from Kurt Cobain's widow Courtney Love over the use of the late Nirvana star's likeness in Guitar Hero 5.

In a statement to clarify their disapproval, No Doubt said in a statement: "[The band] agreed to place avatars containing their name and likeness performing three No Doubt songs in the upcoming Band Hero." Since the game's release on Tuesday, it has been noted that the band's character likenesses can be used to sing and perform more than 60 songs "which are not appropriate for No Doubt and have not been and would not have been chosen by No Doubt for recordings or public performances". Court documents revealed the Ex-Girlfriend group were especially unhappy that the avatar representing lead singer Gwen Stefani could be used to sing in a male voice on songs such as Marvin Gaye's I Heard It Through the Grapevine and the Rolling Stones' Honky Tonk Woman.

"While No Doubt are avid fans of the Rolling Stones and even have performed in concerts with the Rolling Stones, the Character Manipulation Feature results in an unauthorised performance by the Gwen Stefani avatar in a male voice choir boasting about having sex with prostitutes." The ska-pop band are now requesting an injunction preventing the unauthorised usage of their likenesses in the game, as well as "an undetermined amount of damages".

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