Maroon 5 singer sues Band Hero

Adam Levine alleges he wasn’t asked permission to allow his avatar to sing like a girl

Words: on August 5, 2011

Adam Levine isn’t happy with how his image is being used in Activision’s 2009 music game Band Hero. The Maroon 5 frontman, basketball clutch shooter, and current judge on NBC’s reality show The Voice, Levine has filed suit in Los Angeles Superior Court alleging he was unaware his likeness would be used to perform songs from other artists. The suit also claims that the soulful pop singer never agreed to have his avatar sing using “female voices.”

It’s not just the mere affront of singing like a girl that bothers Levine. The suit alleges other artists were asked permission to have their avatars used in a similar manner, and that other artists received a higher fee for their participation.

Above: That’s Adam Levine in the middle. Every time someone uses his avatar to sing with “female voices” in Band Hero, his hairline recedes by half a millimeter

The suit is seeking unspecified damages for breach of contract, fraudulent inducement, violation of common-law right of publicity, and unfair business acts or practices.

Levine’s suit follows one filed in 2009 by the band No Doubt, alleging a similar claim. Activision has also come under fire from Courtney Love for using her deceased husband Kurt Cobain’s image in Guitar Hero 5, but she did not pursue legal action surrounding Nirvana’s frontman.

Aug 5, 2011

Source: Gamasutra

Platforms:

Xbox 360, PS3, DS, Wii

25 comments

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Purity66618 - August 8, 2011 2:29 p.m.

Their album sales must be getting slow and they're not "Ready" to release another so they thought, hmmmm who could we sue and why. Seriously Get a life its a game fine charge for ur likeness (I wouldn't care tho) and charge for ur music (suppose i would do that) but Sueing over breach of contract does the contract State (must only sing Maroon 5 tunes) Probably not so Stfu and go release some more rubbish for ur fans.
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Tranquilbez34 - August 8, 2011 10:25 a.m.

As much as I love Maroon 5, Adam Levine is really late to the suing party. with all seriousness I don't see why he should sue a franchise thats not even running tow years after it got released!
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WTeen8 - August 8, 2011 12:13 a.m.

....really? He's suing because his avatar(a fake reintpretation of a person that exists only in virtual habitats, and thus doesn't exist) is capable of singing other songs other than his own, including female voices. If anything he should be flattered because the game is saying he's capable of singing in various ways. Extending his reach, if you will. Also, no court should bother taking this case, as it is completely frivolous. Also, my Captcha is talking about Minnesota? What?
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angelusdlion - August 7, 2011 12:31 p.m.

Jesus christ. Not again. *forheadpalms*
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ZigzMagoo - August 6, 2011 10:15 p.m.

@Ismell, Lol you are such a fail
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alexkirk - August 6, 2011 7:03 p.m.

shh haters, Maroon 5 is the shit, they are so good. Go Adam! He should totally sue these idiots for lying to him about the game, thats so unfair.
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rockbottom - August 6, 2011 11:22 a.m.

Other artists got paid more because they're worth more. Maroon 5, really. You're fucking lucky to be included in the game in the first place.
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Razzamoly - August 6, 2011 10:19 a.m.

Piss yourself while you laugh? Laugh while you piss yourself?
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UsernameLoser - August 6, 2011 1:57 a.m.

I want to laugh, but I also want to piss myself, which first?
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Silentboy - August 6, 2011 1:46 a.m.

I remember Courtney Love doing the same thing over Kurt Cobain's image in Guitar Hero.
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Redeater - August 6, 2011 1:04 a.m.

@Ismell That comment made my fucking week! Some people couldn't recognize a good comment if it smacked them in the face.
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D0CCON - August 6, 2011 12:46 a.m.

So other artists got paid more, if you agreed to your amount of pay, then whoop-de-doo. These things never work out for artists anyways.
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paganpoet - August 5, 2011 11:53 p.m.

LMAO, Adam Levine =/= Ken Levine I wanna make fun of this, but...I think Adam Levine is kind of hot. You can get away with so much more when you're good looking.
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AngryScotsman - August 5, 2011 11:52 p.m.

@Ismell Are you intentionally mistaking him for Ken Levine or do you truly believe that the creator of BioShock is a member of a widely-believed-to-be-dead-yet-somehow-still-in-formation pop band?
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codystovall - August 5, 2011 11:46 p.m.

Also he is in miseryyyyyy... @ismell wtf you likin bioshock have to do with it...?
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EnigmaSpirit - August 5, 2011 11:41 p.m.

Did anybody even acknowledge this game's existence aside from those sueing the makers?
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Ismell - August 5, 2011 11:36 p.m.

I'm a huge fan of Bioshock and I think Adam Levine's a real smart guy, but this is ridiculous.
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codystovall - August 5, 2011 11:15 p.m.

Sounds like someones got a complex.
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Robx - August 5, 2011 11:07 p.m.

Lawsuits, lawsuits everywhere!
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RODTheMaster - August 5, 2011 11:03 p.m.

Late to the party i see.
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