MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
Manuel Noriega, a former military dictator of Pananama, is taking Activision to court.
Hot on the heel of Lindsay Lohan’s decision to sue Rockstar over the alleged use of her likeness in Grand Theft Auto V, Noriega accuses Call of Duty: Black Ops II of the "blatant misuse, unlawful exploitation and misappropriation” of his image for economic gain".
The game does contain a level named Suffer With Me, the objective of which is to capture Noriega, who is named specifically.
Courthousenews.com reports that the lawsuit claims: "Defendants’ use of plaintiff’s image and likeness caused damage to plaintiff. Plaintiff was portrayed as an antagonist and portrayed as the culprit of numerous fictional heinous crimes, creating the false impression that defendants are authorized to use plaintiff’s image and likeness.
This caused plaintiffs to receive profits they would not have otherwise received."
Specifically Noriega wants damages for unjust enrichment, unfair business practices, and violation of common-law publicity rights”.
Noriega’s reign of Panama was ended after the US army pelted his hideout with loud rock music. He was imprisoned in the US before serving an additional sentence in France. He is currently serving a sentence in Panama itself.
