No Doubt suing over Band Hero avatars
Say they didn't agree to sing others' songs.
The members of pop act No Doubt are suing Activision over the use of their avatars in Guitar Hero spin-off Band Hero.
Their complaint is the same as Kurt Cobain's widow Courtney Love's over the appearance of the Nirvana frontman as a playable character in Guitar Hero 5 - that their likenesses can be used to play other people's songs.
No Doubt - i.e. Gwen Stefani and three men with regrettable hair whose names we've forgotten - say that they gave permission for their avatars to perform three of their own songs only. "Without the band's knowledge or approval, Activision turned the group into virtual karaoke players by having them perform over 60 additional songs by other musical groups," said the band's lawyers in a statement, according to Gamasutra.
No Doubt requested this be changed, but claims that Activision refused, saying the change would be "too expensive".
Activision has issued a statement in response, saying: "Activision has a written agreement to use No Doubt in Band Hero - an agreement signed by No Doubt after extensive negotiations with its representatives... As a result, Activision believes it is within its legal rights with respect to the use and portrayal of the band members in the game and that this lawsuit is without merit."