Noriega’s COD lawsuit thrown out

I have been having quite a giggle about the idea of Noriega suing Activision over what he saw as the use of his persona in Call of Duty: Black Ops II. It got even better when America’s Mayor, Rudolph Giuliani took the case. But now the case is over, and common sense has come out triumphant.

In a victory for Activision, Judge William H. Fahey of Los Angeles Superior Court granted their motion to strike the lawsuit. Bobby Kotick, Activision Blizzard CEO, said in a statement:

Today’s ruling is a victory for the 40 million dedicated members of our Call of Duty community and global audiences who enjoy historical fiction across all works of art. I want to thank Mayor Giuliani, who has dedicated his life to the protection of citizens against terrorists like Manuel Noriega and today for defending free speech.

Yes, Rudi is still fighting and defeating terrorists, now just in a new form. I love statements like these, you can’t help but read them in a deeper voice while pushing your chest out. I have no idea why.

At least that’s settled. The lawsuit made absolutely no sense; once you become a historical figure, historical fiction is open to the use of your likeness. If Noriega didn’t want to be portrayed as a murdering dictator, maybe he shouldn’t have been one. Beyond that, as soon as you choose to go into politics, there is the chance that you might be successful, opening yourself up to things like this. It’s historical fiction, and is safe to stay. Here’s hoping Activision finds a way to sneak in some sort of jab about it in their future games.

Last Updated: October 29, 2014