Selena Gomez Is Suing Some Mobile Game You’ve Never Heard Of For $10 Million — Good For Her - Forbes

Selena Gomez is suing mobile game Clothes Forever - Styling Game for using her likeness without ... [+] permission.

FilmMagic

It seems fairly obvious that the developers of fashion mobile game Clothes Forever - Styling Game have blatantly ripped off Selena Gomez’s likeness. I mean, just look at the picture in this report from Variety and tell me that’s not a flagrant ripoff.

Gomez is pulling no punches, either. She’s suing Chinese publisher Guangzhou Fiedong Software Technology, and UK-based developer MutantBox Interactive Limited to the tune of $10 million USD, and as far as I can tell she’s 100% right to do so.

The suit claims that the game’s creators "never requested, consulted, or informed Gomez regarding the use of any of her publicity rights in connection with the game." But she doesn’t stop there.

Like so many mobile games, Clothes Forever makes money by exploiting its players, charging them enormous sums for “diamonds” in order to make the game playable. You can spend up to $99.99 on these jewel packs, though why anyone would is beyond me.

Gomez takes aim at the game’s revenue model in the suit, which continues: “Nor, if asked, would Gomez have consented to such use for the Game, which apparently relies on the unsavory practice of luring its users to make in-game purchases in amounts as much as $99.99 to fund imaginary spending in the Game and unlock features.”

I’m really glad Gomez and her attorneys included this part. Celebrities shouldn’t attach themselves to this type of game, both for their own reputation and because they have a responsibility as role models not to encourage kids (or adults) to waste their money on exploitative games.

This case is strikingly different from the Lindsay Lohan vs Grand Theft Auto V case. Lohan alleged that Rockstar had used her likeness without her permission. While Rockstar was definitely poking fun at spoiled, out-of-control young female celebrities with a character that resembled Lohan’s personality, they definitely didn’t use her actual likeness without permission.

Lohan ultimately lost her suit, with a panel of judges ruling that the character in the GTAV was a “generic. . . twenty something woman without any particular identifying physical characteristics.”

Gomez’s case is more clearcut. The developer used an actual image of Gomez from the cover of Flare magazine, only flipping the orientation 180 degrees. It’s one of the laziest things I’ve ever seen. The real hurdle, of course, will be successfully suing a Chinese company. That’s no easy task. Still, even if she doesn’t succeed in court she may be able to get the game taken down. It appears that, at the moment at least, it is no longer on the App Store.

What’s your take? Let me know on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube. 

You canfollow me on this blog as well or sign up for my posts via email. 

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2020/04/17/selena-gomez-is-suing-some-mobile-game-youve-never-heard-of-for-10-million---good-for-her/

2020-04-17 18:49:54Z
CAIiEEKGSUqOKHUHaz_ZAKUokQ4qFQgEKg0IACoGCAowrqkBMKBFMMGBAg

Bagikan Berita Ini