Selena Gomez Sues Fashion Game App Maker For Exploiting Her Likeness
Image via Denis Makarenko / Shutterstock.com
Selena Gomez has filed a US$10 million lawsuit against a Chinese app developer, as well as app copyright owners and sellers for exploiting her likeness in a “bug-riddled” mobile fashion game for iPhones and iPads.
Gomez, who owns all rights to her name, likeness, and other identifiers of her character for commercial use, alleges in a complaint to a California state court that Forgame US Corporation “knowingly” used her image without permission for the Clothes Forever – Styling Game.
Her likeness can be seen in the app’s listing on Apple’s App Store, which shows screenshots of the Gomez lookalike dressed in the singer’s look from Flare Magazine’s November 2015 cover.
Selena Gomez is suing the developers of a "bug-riddled" mobile app for using her likeness to promote fashion game without her permission. https://t.co/EivB8fik6w pic.twitter.com/EWmzOWVHdz
— The Fashion Law (@TheFashionLaw) April 16, 2020
The game features characters who also appear to be modeled after prolific celebrities like Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Rihanna, and Gigi Hadid. Users dress up and interact with the avatars, and even provide styling tips to them.
Selena Gomez Is Suing A Mobile Game For Stealing Her Likenesshttps://t.co/bKreCfLK2W... pic.twitter.com/YrdbaWP5jw
— Techcity Today (@TechcityToday) April 16, 2020
Gomez’s attorneys argue that the developer “violated” her reputation and cashed in on her popularity through a “bug-riddled” app with a “measly” rating of 3.5 stars out of five. The use of her likeness might also “[create] the false impression that she has endorsed the game or has something to do with the game.”
They also criticized that, despite the app being free to download, developers have been “luring” users to make “imaginary” in-game purchases amounting to US$99.99.
The team is asking for at least US$10 million, encompassing “all income, profits or other benefits,” from the developer; UK-based MutantBox Interactive Limited, who owns the app’s copyright; China-based Guangzhou Feidong Software Technology, who sells the game in China; and China-based developers Guangzhou Feiyin Information Technology Co. and Guangzhou Jieyou Software Co.
[via The Fashion Law and Business Insider, images via various sources]
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