No Doubt Countersued Over Band Hero

The Don't Speak hitmakers filed a lawsuit against Activision bosses last month (Nov09) in a bid to have their likenesses removed from the new game. The band alleged they signed a deal with the manufacturers to feature as avatars singing three No Doubt tracks, but accused the company of reneging on the deal by allowing their characters to perform other artists' songs too.

Gwen Stefani's group, who claimed the game transformed them into a "virtual karaoke circus act," requested an injunction prohibiting "the unauthorised use of No Doubt's name and likeness" in Band Hero, in addition to unspecified damages.

But now the gaming firm has hit back at the lawsuit by filing their own legal papers, claiming the group failed to meet the contract deal by not promoting the game's release, despite benefiting from their inclusion in it.

Activision's suit alleges No Doubt should have realised their characters would be used in such a way and are seeking costs and damages from the band.