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Game Makers Launch Countersuit Against No Doubt

Activision, the makers of the game Band Hero, have launched a countersuit against No Doubt, after the band sued them for the way players can manipulate their avatars to play hits by other artists.

The suit came over Band Hero's Character Manipulation Feature, where players can get an artist to sing or play songs from an entirely different band. According to Rolling Stone, No Doubt's manager said the band were "mortified" to discover the No Doubt avatars -- singer Gwen Stefani pictured -- could be used to perform tracks by the likes of including tunes by Spice Girls, Poison and Duran Duran.

"The Character Manipulation Feature allows a game-player to create awkward and distorted virtual performances by No Doubt's avatar characters, of musical works in genres not associated with, and never performed by, No Doubt," the suit contends.

But in the countersuit, Activision have accused the band of failing in their due diligence. They said the game's "unlockable avatars" were a "publicly known" element, and the band should have been aware of them. They also say the band refused to assist in promotion, which was a breach of their contract.

One of the main issues in the Activision and No Doubt lawsuits is over the Rolling Stones song 'Honky Tonk Woman.'

"While No Doubt are avid fans of the Rolling Stones and even have performed in concerts with them, the Character Manipulation Feature results in an unauthorised performance by the Gwen Stefani avatar in a male voice boasting about having sex with prostitutes," the band's lawyers alleged.

No Doubt are also unhappy bass player Tony Kanal can be made to sing in a high-pitched voice on songs such as 'Just a Girl.'

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11 Comments

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Joyce

How petty! If that's all they have to complain about, then they all need to get lives! Seriously, shouldn't they be, oh, I don't know, making music or something? Too much whiney hiney egotistical time on their hands, if you ask me. They should be thanking the game for wanting them in it, because I thought they weren't together anymore, too!

December 13 2009 at 1:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Chris Slaski

covering a song is one thing you bunch of dumbasses having your image sing in a totally different voice to a song that is about fckin prostitutes is a WHOLE different issue. Alright since you all seem to have IQ'S of a child I'll put it to you this way..... for all the boys/men who think this issue is only about "covering songs"..... imagine your face being put to a song by Boy George or some other openly gay singer (I choose gay because that seems to hit a nerve with most hetro men) problem is it can be put to some womans voice or whatever....you wouldn't like it either that's the peoblem with this generation of music nowadays it's more of a theatrical thing (hence: Adam Lambert) WAKE UP people and remember that not very long ago music was good and people stuck to their roots....YOU GO GWEN for sticking up for yours....SKA WILL NEVER DIE!!!

December 13 2009 at 12:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
weezee

I didn't know No Doubt was still together. Thought Gwen left them in the dust. They really need to get lives, those losers. Their songs suck anyway.

December 13 2009 at 11:57 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Melanie

I think we have bigger n better things 2 woory about!!! I wonder where peoples heads really r ??? How far up there ass????

December 13 2009 at 11:29 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Guy

smells like a publicity stunt to me, just a way to advertise what the game can do and a way for the band to get a back in the public eye. Both parties laughing all the way to the bank.

December 13 2009 at 11:16 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Diane

Um, Really?? Bands cover songs ALL THE TIME! Songs that can generally be termed as "musical works in genres not associated with, and never performed by" ANY particular band. I mean, Disturbd covered "Land of Confusion" originally done by Genesis; Seether covered "Careless Whisper" by Wham! (who would have thought that one!lol), so what is the big deal? Does No Doubt consider their songs to be so fresh and original that they are above another band performing them? Especially if it is for a game, played in the privacy of a consumer's home for their own entertainment. Seriously No Doubt, get over yourselves!

December 13 2009 at 10:34 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Diane's comment
Diane

Not to mention, No Doubt themselves covered at least one song that i know of; "It's My Life" originally done by Talk Talk in 1984...so where do they get off complaining???

December 13 2009 at 10:53 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mia

Good grief... get the hell over yourselves!!

December 13 2009 at 10:32 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
bobo

"No Doubt" sucks. They ought to be happy for the exposure.....

December 13 2009 at 10:32 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bob

who friggin cares. get a life you bunch of LOSERS!

December 13 2009 at 10:20 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Afreeca

What is the big deal. It's just a game for us the users, the buyers to enjoy and use how we see fit in the privacy of our homes.
Nothing against no doubt but to me this just proves another way the rich and famous want to control things.

December 13 2009 at 10:18 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply