Free for a Fee

Decades later, the rights holder to the Patton namesake is launching another war, this one against California video game maker Maximum Family Games. The publisher produced a strategy game called History Legends of War: Patton, and it now has until Friday to answer a federal infringement lawsuit from CMG Worldwide, which owns the rights to the former World War II legend. According to the suit:

Despite CMG’s efforts to resolve this matter consensually, Maximum continues to unlawfully use General Patton’s name, image, and likeness in connection with advertising and selling the Infringing Video Game. Maximum’s conduct has caused, and continues to cause, substantial, measurable, and irreparable harm to CMG. In particular, Maximum’s conduct has damaged the value to CMG of General Patton’s name, image, and likeness; has interfered with CMG’s ability to license General Patton’s name, image, and likeness for use in other video games; and has damaged CMG’s ability to enforce its rights to General Patton’s name, image, and likeness against third parties.

It’s the third lawsuit of its type lodged this year. Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega sued the publisher of Call of Duty: Black Ops II over his likeness being used without permission in that game. And celebrity Lindsay Lohan sued Rockstar, the maker of Grand Theft Auto V, alleging that elements of the game tread too close to her real life. The blockbuster game was released last year and features celebrities, criminals, and paparazzi all behaving badly in a sun-drenched metropolis.