Did you know that a real-life dictator once tried to sue the people who made the video game Call of Duty? His name was Manuel Noriega, and he was the ruler of Panama from 1983 to 1989. He got really upset when he saw himself in the game Call of Duty: Black Ops II.
Which dictator filed a lawsuit over his depiction in the video game Call of Duty?
The dictator who filed the lawsuit was Manuel Noriega. In the game, he was shown helping the CIA at first, but later he turns into a bad guy. He is shown as a kidnapper, murderer, and enemy of the state. Noriega didn’t like how the game used his name and face, so he sued the game company.
Yes, he really did! He said the game made him look bad and used him without asking. He wanted money because he felt the game became more popular by using him as a character.
But the people who made Call of Duty, a company called Activision, said it was free speech. That means people can tell stories, even if they include real people, as long as it’s for creative and entertainment reasons.
The court agreed with Activision. The judge said the game was like a movie or book, and it had the right to use real people in a made-up story. So, the lawsuit was dismissed (that means thrown out), and Noriega didn’t win.
Even though Noriega was angry, the law protected the game makers. This showed that video games, just like movies and books, can use real history in creative ways.
You can play Call of Duty on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. Some versions are also available on mobile devices.