Eighties pop-rock band The Romantics are suing Activision, publisher of the Guitar Hero franchise, for including a cover version of their song "What I Like About You" without securing permission from the band or its label.
According the the Associated Press, the band says that the cover version of the song included in "Guitar Hero Rocks the 80's" infringes on the group's right to its own likeness.
In layman's terms the lawsuit states that gamers will be confused into thinking that the Guitar Hero cover version of the song was preformed by the Romantics. The Romantics believes that since their song is included in the game, players will assume that the band endorses the game.
The group is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, and are requesting that "Guitar Hero Rocks the 80's" be blocked from store shelves.
http://communities.canada.com/shareit/blogs/gamesnews/archive/2007/11/22/band-sues-activision-for-guitar-hero-cover-song.aspx
According the the Associated Press, the band says that the cover version of the song included in "Guitar Hero Rocks the 80's" infringes on the group's right to its own likeness.
In layman's terms the lawsuit states that gamers will be confused into thinking that the Guitar Hero cover version of the song was preformed by the Romantics. The Romantics believes that since their song is included in the game, players will assume that the band endorses the game.
The group is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, and are requesting that "Guitar Hero Rocks the 80's" be blocked from store shelves.
http://communities.canada.com/shareit/blogs/gamesnews/archive/2007/11/22/band-sues-activision-for-guitar-hero-cover-song.aspx