No Doubt Sues Over ‘Band Hero’
Following Courtney Love‘s allegations that video-game maker Activision misused the likeness of Kurt Cobain in Guitar Hero 5, another top rock act is taking on the company. No Doubt are suing Activision after discovering that their images could be made to perform more than 60 different songs — including Styx‘s “Mr. Roboto” and “Y.M.C.A.” — in the new Band Hero game. The suit claims the game turns No Doubt into “a virtual karaoke circus act.” “The band is mortified — they are like, ‘What? We didn’t sign up for this,'” says the band’s manager, Jim Guerinot. In response, Activision released a statement: “Activision has a written agreement to use No Doubt in Band Hero. . . . Activision believes it is within its legal rights with respect to the use and portrayal of the band members in the game.“
This story appeared in the November 26, 2009 issue of Rolling Stone.