February 28th, 2012
06:40 PM ET
'Joustin' Beaver' vs. Justin BieberJustin Bieber was in good humor as he helped Billy Crystal open the Oscars Sunday, but the teen star's team seems to find nothing funny about a game app called "Joustin' Beaver." According to a statement from the company behind the app, RC3, Bieb's legal team handed down a cease and desist letter alleging that the game uses Bieber's likeness without authorization, among other things. The "Joustin' Beaver" game features a beaver called JB, which with aid from the game's player tries to thwart opportunistic "Phot-Hogs" with his lance as he sails down a river signing "Otter-graphs."
According to the statement from RC3, the cease and desist letter states that “The App utilizes our Client’s name and likeness and portrays a beaver character based on our Client as part of the App’s game play," adding that the game's creator has "no right to utilize our Client’s name, image, likeness, life story or identity in or in connection with the App." However, the company claims that the game is a parody, and thus falls under First Amendment free speech rights. “Nowhere in the game is Justin Bieber’s name, photo, image or life story mentioned," RC3 has said. "We were surprised to learn that in addition to being a talented musician, Mr. Bieber is also a fictional beaver.” CNN has reached out to Bieber's reps for comment, but has yet to hear back. Meanwhile, RC3 has filed what they say is, in essence, a lawsuit against Justin Bieber, reiterating that the game is a parody of Bieber's celebrity. According to documents acquired by The Hollywood Reporter, RC3 says in its suit that "In an effort to comment upon the Defendant's life, the Plaintiff, RC3, developed the aforementioned app...a video game [that] is a parody of the commercial success of the Defendant and any celebrity." In a statement, the president and CEO of RC3, Robb Chamberlain, told CNN that "based on the demands of Justin Bieber's attorneys, we felt that preemptive and defensive measures were necessary. We feel confident in our argument based on our First Amendment rights." RC3 is seeking a declaration that it's not infringing on Bieber's trademark or or misappropriating his likeness for commercial gain.
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Absolutely with yuo it agree. In it something is also idea good, I support.
hpixel
everybody is a hater and i think is not fair for him, and now they made a game about him??!! Everybody is human and LEAVE HIM ALONE!!
gosh!! they should do that. for peats sakes, his name is JB. this is so stupid, give up the idiotic app and let JB have some peace without haters attacking him. GOD
LONG LIVE THE BEAVER!!!
IS that K.D. Lang?...........Seriously.
not a big deal to.. I dont think.. but then I guess.. I wouldnt want my image to be put on some game without my knowledge either.. PS.. we all know that the whole baby daddy thing was a set up from the beginning.. I think they paid her to say it to give Bieber more publicity while promoting his new Xmas album at the time.. after he was done promoting his album.. the law suit was dropped and never heard anything again.. what do u think.. good theory..
@janedoe- you may have a point. It's funny after all the fuss, we've heard nothing about the outcome. Results should have been back a long time ago. Publicity stunt, good possibility.
Hey, did we ever find out whether he was the baby's daddy? Curious minds want to know!
Justin Bieber's team is really missing an opportunity to look at this situation with humor. It's just really silly and pointless. It's not like Justin will lose money, fans, or sleep over a goofy video game. He could actually spin this whole thing to his advantage by laughing too. Life's too short to take yourself that seriously.
this is stupid the ppl who made this game r clearly making fun of justin and everything about him regardless of what they say the name and look of that beaver is justin bieber all over it they have no chance in hell at keeping this game going lol
And that is exactly what a parody is. People are allowed to make satires. It seems more that the game is making fun of the cult of celebrity.
LOL,I'm sure this game is rated M, too!
It's a shame... I'm sure the fictional beaver has more talent.
All beavers have talent.
cool story bro. oops sorry I can't hear you over justin selling out his MSG tickets in 1 minute, writing a top seller book, winning new artist of the year, featuring Mariah Carry, having his music video for Baby have the most hits on youtube, having girls scream for him, having 18 million followers on twitter, etc. and I guess you cant hear me over Joustin Beaver chucking wood. but, cool story bro. I hope it gets you through the day.