Activision Blizzard sued over Call of Duty character
Film writer Clayton Haugen alleges his concept images were used as a basis for Modern Warfare's Mara
A film writer is suing Activision Blizzard over similarities between one of its Call of Duty characters, Mara, and his own copyrighted character and images.
Clayton Haugen alleges that a character he created in 2017 named "Cade Janus" and posted to his website and social media was used as the basis for Mara.
Actress and cosplayer Alex Zedra was hired by Haugen, whose Instagram posts show images of Zedra in military garb, prior to the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.
The lawsuit alleges that Call of Duty developers saw the images and employed the same actress and makeup artist as the basis for Mara, a character in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.
Haugen alleges that Activision Blizzard forced the model and make-up artist to sign non-disclosure agreements to cover up the infringement.
Mara was added to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare as part of its first battle pass, and has since had several in-game variations released.
The full complaint lays out similarities between Mara and Haugen's character, and says Haugen is entitled to "recover all monetary remedies from Defendants' infringement, including all of their profits attributable to their infringements, to the full extent permitted by 17 U.S.C. § 505."
A previous lawsuit against Activision Blizzard by AM General, over trademark infringement for its use of Humvees in Call of Duty games, was dismissed last April.