One other aspect of the suit sounds slightly less absurd. Noriega sued because the game used his likeness without his permission, so he claimed he was entitled to a share of profits. For another ’80s character in the game, Oliver North, Activision Blizzard didn’t just get the real man’s blessing but actually got him to voice the character (and paid him, presumably).
The judge dismissed this complaint as well. You do not need the permission of a public historical figure to feature them in a movie or video game. You gain some additional legal protections if they sign a release, but you can stick them in regardless.
Activision’s lawyer during all this? Rudolph Giuliani, who called the decision “a victory for works of art across the entertainment and publishing industries throughout the world.” His position on free speech with regard to covering heads of state would change a bit in the years that followed. There was a time when “America’s mayor defends the free speech of video games” sounded inspirational, but now, “Rudy Giuliani teams up with Activision Blizzard” comes off like something from the Legion of Doom.
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For more things Call of Duty, check out:
How ‘Call of Duty’ Got Itself Into A Political Pickle
Subtle Reactions and Secret Codes Reveal the Main Twist
6 Common Things You Do In Video Games (That Are War Crimes)
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Top image: Activision Blizzard
Related: ‘Borat 2′ Star Rudy Giuliani Evaded Dominion Voting Systems’ Lawsuit Process Servers For A Week, A New Report Claims
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