Selena Gomez is now suing the makers of the mobile game, named Clothes Forever - Styling Game, for $10 million for, allegedly, stealing her likeness in their game. The singer stressed in her lawsuit that one of the characters is based on her and that she has never agreed to be used or be part of the game.
The online game Clothes Forever - Styling Game allows players to work as a virtual stylist of models, singers, and celebrities. It also urges users to buy virtual clothes and jewelry for prices ranging from $.99 up to $99.99 and to go on virtual shopping trips with celebrities. The game is currently available for download in Apple's App Store.
Selena's lawsuit stated that the game features an image that rips off from her appearance on the cover of Flare Magazine in November 2015. The "Lose You To Love Me" singer stressed that the game developer did not seek her permission to use her image or likeness but blatantly nonetheless, used her publicity rights without authorization for their own gain.
Selena is suing China-based mobile game maker Guangzhou Feidong Software Technology Co. and British company MutantBox Interactive Limited that holds the copyrights to the game. The "Rare" songstress is asking for at least $10 million which includes compensation for "all income, profits or other benefits" the company has collected by using her likeness.
Gomez's camp stressed that the use of her likeness attracts fans to play the game but also creates a false impression that she endorses the game or has something to do with it. The lawsuit also claimed that aside from Gomez, Clothes Forever also uses the images and likenesses of other celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, Kendall Jenner, and Gigi Hadid.
"Selena Gomez is a style icon. This is an egregious violation of Selena's rights, which we will litigate vigorously to vindicate," Selena's lawyer Alex Weingarten said in a statement to Rolling Stone.
Meanwhile, Gomez's camp also revealed that the singer has invested time and resources into the possibility of venturing out into the mobile game world with a focus in fashion in particular. However, Clothes Forever's alleged illegal use of Selena's likeness has negatively affected the singer's ability to move forward with such a project.
Selena Gomez is not the first famous celebrity who sued mobile game developers for using their likeness without permission. Back in 2016, Lindsay Lohan sued the makers of Grand Theft Auto V for using her distinct likeness for an avatar that appeared in marketing material. The court, however, dismissed the case because apparently, Lohan was never referred to by her actual name in the promo material.
