The Florida lawyer the gaming community loves to hate is at it again.This time he’s reportedly attacking Midway over the release of Mortal Kombat: Armageddon. It seems if the character creator is manipulated just right you can create a combatant that looks a bit like Jack.
So, showing his egocentric side, Jack’s reportedly fired off a cease and desist e-mail to Midway CEO David Zucker that says “It has today come to my attention that the newly recently Mortal Kombat: Armageddon contains an unauthorized commercial exploitation of my name, photograph, image, and likeness within the game. You are commanded to cease and desist immediately from the distribution of this game because of this unauthorized, illegal content."
What’s not being pointed out here are three very important things Mr. Thompson should know, but doesn’t seem to:
One: There’s the fact the character creator can conceivably make a likeness of just about anyone. Screenshots available show all kinds of similar representations depending on how the game is manipulated by a player. Just because a player happens to create a fighter that looks like Jack doesn’t make it Jack, nor does it make it Midway's fault a crafty gamer made a likeness of anyone.
Two: Jack’s a public figure. He’s made himself a public figure. Not only has he scrounged for headlines and media attention like an ambulance chasing lawyer, he’s now declared himself a candidate in the race for a judicial seat that happens to currently belong to the judge that smacked him down in his battle against Bully. By putting himself into the public spotlight like he has, he’s opened the door for criticism. Whether he likes it or not, Americans are free to poke fun, pick on or disagree with him as they wish when they wish. If a movie can be released that depicts the assassination of President Bush and “Saturday Night Live” can survive season after season of political lampooning, some gamer who manages to create a Jack likeness is certainly able to do so.
Three: Midway is not marketing the game as a Jack parody, nor is it seeking to make a profit off of any particular likeness. Of course, the fact it can create a parody of Jack (or anyone for that matter) is a bonus.
Hopefully, Zucker hit the delete button after having a very good chuckle.
Related:
Jack Thompson On Another Witch Hunt
A Jack Attack – Thompson That Is
Jack Thompson, Anti-Game Lawyer Strikes Again
Bully Gets Judicial Thumbs Up
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