Grand Theft Auto V and its Los Santos setting are all about parodying Hollywood and American culture. Rather than getting the joke, actress Lindsay Lohan has decided to sue Grand Theft Auto maker Take-Two Interactive, saying the game company used her likeness without her permission.
Late last year rumors circulated that Lohan had spoken to lawyers about seeking action against Take-Two over her likeness being used for Grand Theft Auto V's bikini-clad cover star, but no action was taken at the time.
Now, according to the New York Daily News, Lohan is finally taking legal action today in a Manhattan court.
"The portraits of the Plaintiff (Lohan) incorporated her image, likeness, clothing, outfits, Plaintiff's clothing line products, ensemble in the form of hats, hair style, sunglasses, jean shorts worn by the Plaintiff that were for sale to the public at least two years (before the game was released,)" reads the lawsuit, according to the New York Daily News.
What character Lohan is suing over isn't completely clear. According to some sites, Lohan is upset over the Lacey Jonas character, claiming her likeness, voice and clothing are depicted without her permission. Jonas is a minor character in the game found in an optional side-mission which tasks players with whisking Jonas away from the paparazzi. While driving Jonas through fictional Los Angeles, Jonas spouts lines like "How is my hair? Do I look cute?" and tells the player to avoid injuring the photographers, as she doesn't need any more lawsuits.
Based on information revealed from in-game gossip websites and conversations, Jonas is also anorexic. The suit also takes issue with the fact that the game features a version of West Hollywood's Chateau Hotel, where Lohan lived for several months in 2012 and was reportedly banned from.
The New York Daily News claims the lawsuit is not only directed at the Lacey Jonas character, but also claiming her likeness is being used without permission for the woman who is prominently featured on the box art of the game and in other promotional materials. Lacey Jonas and the woman on the game's box art are not one in the same.
Lohan's case will likely be a tough one to win in court. Parody is well protected under the First Amendment, and the Jonas character featured in the game could be based off any young Hollywood starlet who ran their career into the ground. Considering Grand Theft Auto V released in September of 2013 and made $800 million its first day on sale, Take-Two probably isn't too worried about this.
