Former Dictator Suing Activision Over Call of Duty Likeness

Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega is suing Activision over allegations that the publisher used his likeness in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2.

The military dictator, who was in power in Panama from 1983 to 1989, has filed a lawsuit against Activision for “blatant misuse, unlawful exploitation and misappropriation for economic gain,” due to him appearing as an antagonist in the game’s ‘Suffer With Me’ mission.

Related: Lindsay Lohan’s Look-Alike in GTA V Prompts Lawsuit in Manhattan Court

Noriega is currently serving a jail sentence in the country for crimes he committed during his time in power, including the murdering of his critics. The lawsuit states that the game portrays him “as a kidnapper, murderer and enemy of the state,” also referring to an objective in Black Ops 2 that requires the player to “capture the plaintiff.”

According to Courthouse News, the lawsuit also states that “Plaintiff was portrayed as an antagonist and portrayed as the culprit of numerous fictional heinous crimes, creating the false impression that defendants are authorized to use plaintiff’s image and likeness. This caused plaintiffs to receive profits they would not have otherwise received.”

Noriega, who was ousted from his position of power in a US invasion before being sentenced in 1992, is seeking damages for “lost profits” and other charges.

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