LOS ANGELES (AP) – Disgraced Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega’s lawsuit over his inclusion in a 2012 “Call of Duty” video game has been dismissed by a judge who determined the game’s use of his likeness is protected by the First Amendment.
Superior Court Judge William Fahey’s ruling determined that Activision Blizzard, Inc. created a complex and multi-faceted game, “Call of Duty: Black Ops II,” and it relied very little on the inclusion of Noriega in a pair of missions.
Noriega had sought unspecified damages in the lawsuit, which Fahey ruled cannot be amended or re-filed. Noriega’s attorney William T. Gibbs said he had not seen the ruling and had no immediate comment on it.
Noriega sued Activision in July, claiming the company depicted him as a killer and enemy of the state. The game features a story line in which players capture Noriega, who then helps the game’s villain.
“This was an absurd lawsuit from the very beginning and we’re gratified that in the end, a notorious criminal didn’t win,” said former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who was part of the legal team that represented Activision in court earlier this month.