MJ Estate to PopCap: Character's Likeness is Off the Wall

July 27, 2010

You can’t fight city hall. Apparently it’s not too smart (or cost-efficient) to take on the estate of Michael Jackson either, as PopCap Games has modified a character in its Plants vs. Zombies game for the iPhone which formerly closely resembled the late, great gloved-one.

MTV got word from PopCap themselves that MJ’s estate was none too thrilled with the game’s Dancing Zombie, which was outfitted in a red jacket, short pants and white socks, resembling the way Jackson appears in his in-famous Thriller video. The Dancing Zombie is now said to feature more of a disco-themed look.

PopCap issued MTV the follow statement:

The Estate of Michael Jackson objected to our use of the 'dancing zombie' in PLANTS vs. ZOMBIES based on its view that the zombie too closely resembled Michael Jackson. After receiving this objection, PopCap made a business decision to retire the original 'dancing zombie' and replace it with a different 'dancing zombie' character for future builds of PLANTS vs.ZOMBIES on all platforms. The phase-out and replacement process is underway.

Comments

Re: MJ Estate to PopCap: Character's Likeness is Off the ...

Submitted by deuxhero on Thu, 07/29/2010 - 08:59.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzKbz1DxuRE

 

Best keep them away from Shin Megami Tensei 2.

Re: MJ Estate to PopCap: Character's Likeness is Off the ...

Submitted by Vany on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 11:39.

"MJ’s estate was none too thrilled"

I see what you did there.

Re: MJ Estate to PopCap: Character's Likeness is Off the ...

Submitted by omikron48 on Tue, 07/27/2010 - 18:46.

So caricatures of any famous people are not allowed anymore?

Re: MJ Estate to PopCap: Character's Likeness is Off the ...

Submitted by killatia on Tue, 07/27/2010 - 18:57.

If the lawyers has anything to say about it its a yes, otherwise nope its still allowed.

http://www.magicinkgaming.com/

http://www.magicinkgaming.com/

Re: MJ Estate to PopCap: Character's Likeness is Off the ...

Submitted by Yammo on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 02:48.

 

And lawyers are puppets to money alone...
...not law/morals/common sense or anything normal people see as humane.

 

I piss on the Jacksson family... Michael was a genious, the rest of the family
is nothing but a bunch of no-skill leechers. This is only yet another wanking
attempt from them to make money. Had they had any talents, what-so-ever
they wouldn't have had to humiliate themselves with things like this.
 

Re: MJ Estate to PopCap: Character's Likeness is Off the ...

Submitted by Kalerender on Tue, 07/27/2010 - 18:52.

Never has been to make money, and once the person is dead the people in control of that person's estate generally get pretty angsty where someone is profiting of something they feel they own. Basically it can be argued that because their likeness is so recognisable, any use of that reflects back to them and may directly harm their ability to make a living from said likeness.

It's a bizarrely stupid system.

Re: MJ Estate to PopCap: Character's Likeness is Off the ...

Submitted by hellfire7885 on Tue, 07/27/2010 - 15:50.

I doubt it was in Michael's will that this tribute to him be ordered to be taken down. They're just going to go after more.

It's no disrespectful, it's a tribute. All this did was make what was meant to be a funny moment lame.

Re: MJ Estate to PopCap: Character's Likeness is Off the ...

Submitted by tacc on Tue, 07/27/2010 - 15:43.

Seriously...

 
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