porno

While Taylor Swift may be happy to be a part of the new video game title Band Hero, I have it on pretty good authority that the members of No Doubt are NOT happy with the game. It turns out that No Doubt is pretty pissed that the game title allegedly misused their likeness against their wishes by not even asking how their likeness would be used in the game … as a result, No Doubt is suing Activision, the company that makes the game:

Rock band No Doubt has filed a real-world lawsuit over its virtual role in the just-released Band Hero edition of the Guitar Hero video game series, claiming that the game has “transformed No Doubt band members into a virtual karaoke circus act,” singing dozens of songs the group neither wrote, popularized nor approved for use in the game. In a suit filed today in Los Angeles Superior Court, the band alleges that Santa Monica-based Activision, the maker of the game, has far exceeded the contractually approved use of likenesses, or avatars, of band members Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal, Tom Dumont and Adrian Young. An Activision spokesman said the company had not seen the complaint yet and therefore had no comment. “The band [members] are bitterly disappointed that their name and likeness was taken and used without their permission,” manager Jim Guerinot said Wednesday. “They agreed to play three No Doubt songs as a band…Activision then went and put them in 62 other songs and broke the band up [and] never even asked.” The suit also charges that the game allows users to manipulate their characters to sing songs popularized by other pop music acts. No Doubt’s contract with Activision allowed the company to use the band’s music and likenesses in no more than three of the band’s own songs, the suit states. The game, which was released Tuesday, puts the group members’ images, collectively and individually, into more than 60 songs, “many of which include lyrics, contained in iconic songs, which are not appropriate for No Doubt and have not been and would not have been chosen by No Doubt for recordings or public performances.” Specifically, the suit notes that through the game’s Character Manipulation Feature, Stefani’s image can be induced to sing the Rolling Stones’ “Honky Tonk Women.” “While No Doubt are avid fans of the Rolling Stones and even have performed in concerts with the Rolling Stones,” the complaint states, “the Character Manipulation Feature results in an unauthorized performance by the Gwen Stefani avatar in a male voice boasting about having sex with prostitutes.” It also states that bassist Kanal’s likeness can be manipulated to sing, in a female voice, one of No Doubt’s signature hits, “Just a Girl.” “Activision has deceived and confused the public into believing that No Doubt authorized the use of its name and likeness for the Character Manipulation Feature of Band Hero and that No Doubt approves and endorses the appearance of its members individually performing songs that are wholly inappropriate and out of character for No Doubt,” according to the complaint. The suit states that Activision executives withheld disclosure of the character manipulation feature, and refused the band’s request to remove or disable it in conjunction with the No Doubt avatars after the band learned how they were being used. The complaint says Activision officials told the band that doing so would be “too expensive.” “Perhaps most disappointing is when Activision was made aware of the problem, rather than make a fix they admit was technically feasible, they made a business decision that both the time and money required to do the right thing were too much,” Guerinot said. “I guess they are developing the next level of the game: corporate Rock Hero.” The suit asks for unspecified actual and punitive damages, a temporary restraining order, a preliminary injunction and a permanent injunction against distribution of the game and for Activision to recall existing copies.

Damn … if the band’s allegations are to be believed it is pretty crappy that the company would just run wild with No Doubt‘s likenesses like that. It’s one thing to have the band perform other songs but quite another to break up the band when they are very adamant about staying a single unit. I find it very hard to believe that Activision will be able to recall all the copies that have been sold thus far … my guess is that if they want this lawsuit to go away, they’re gonna hafta pay up. In the meantime, you might want to run out and buy Band Hero while you still can … depending on how this lawsuit turns out, the game might be in high demand … or may disappear altogether.

[Source]

Earlier this month we learned that Taylor Swift would be among the real life musicians who will appear in animated form in the new video game Band Hero and last night she was spotted at a photo/video commercial shoot here in SoCal for her appearance in the video game. As you may recall, players of Band Hero will be able to play as Taylor Swift (and others) in the game. Here are a few pics from her shoot last night:

You may also recall that we have been seeing much of Taylor Swift just this week alone. First she and a friend showed up at the Staples Center to watch a LA Kings hockey game. Then she and a friend were spotted creepin’ into a hotel in Beverly Hills, CA together. And, it turns out, that the friend she’s been hanging out with all week long tagged along to her photo/video shoot last night. After the jump, check out a few photos of the friends together last night …

Activision, the video game company that makes some of the coolest video games IN THE WORLD, has announced the release of a new game called Band Hero (an offshoot of the very popular Guitar Hero series of games) which allows players to play as their fave musicians in order to live out their rock star dreams. Here are pics of the animated versions of Taylor Swift and Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine (who are both playable characters) and the press release that reveals what other musicians you can play in the game:

Video game players and music fans alike can now get closer to Activision Publishing, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: ATVI) Band Hero’s(TM) in-game playable character Taylor Swift than ever before, as they can perform as the music icon to her fan-favorite chart-topping hits “You Belong With Me,” “Picture To Burn” and “Love Story” in the biggest music event to hit living rooms this holiday season – Band Hero. Today, Activision puts fans front and center in the concert of a lifetime, as they debut Swift’s never-before-seen in-game performances in Band Hero, the perfect game for family and friends to jam out and sing along to their favorite tunes together. Allowing budding pop stars the ability to perform with friends and family in living rooms across the globe or take their newfound fame on the road as they command center stage with their band anywhere they choose, Band Hero confirmed today additional songs from both the console and Nintendo DS(TM) Lite set lists, comprised of the most fun to play, chart-topping hits. When the games ship on November 3, fans can live out their music fantasies as they step on stage as their favorite music superstars, including singer/songwriter Taylor Swift and Maroon 5′s Adam Levine, while strumming, drumming and singing along to the most popular songs of yesterday and today … This holiday season, the biggest music event of the year will hit living rooms around the world as family and friends come together to ascend the virtual stage and rock their way to superstardom with Band Hero. Brought to you by the makers of Guitar Hero(R), one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time, Band Hero features the hottest chart-topping hits from everyone’s favorite bands including No Doubt, Nelly Furtado, Lily Allen, The All-American Rejects and Jackson 5. Headlined by some of the leading names in music as in-game artists and playable characters, including singer, songwriter and guitarist Taylor Swift and Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine, Band Hero is the ultimate party game where friends and family can choose to join the band or “take five” at any time without interrupting the performance, in Party Play mode. Band Hero allows fans to create the band of their dreams, using any combination of vocals and guitar or drum controllers, providing budding pop stars the chance to customize how they interact with and experience their favorite music.

OMG … I love this!! Back in July we learned that we would be able to play as Shirley Manson of Garbage in Guitar Hero 5 and now we learn that we will get to play as a whole lot of other amazing musicians in Band Hero!! People, the game also allows you to play as Kylie Minogue and Robbie Williams on their duet song Kids!!! Other playable characters include David Bowie on Let’s Dance, The Go-Go’s on Our Lips Are Sealed, Pat Benatar on Love Is A Battlefield, Styx on Mr. Roboto and more. Wee!! This sounds so fun … I know my boy Darion will be getting his hands on this game and I cannot wait for him to host a party so we can all play at his place. I need to channel my inner Kylie Minogue, y’all. Woot!!

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]