Axl Rose sues Activision over Guitar Hero Slash

 Axl Rose is suing computer games maker Activision Blizzard for $20 million (£12.8m) it has emerged.

 

The Guns N’ Roses filed for the lawsuit over the use of their song ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ in a version of the popular Guitar Hero game that was released in 2007.

 

Axl Roses’ lawyers Miller Barondess filed the suit last week claiming that Activision had ‘fraudulently induced their client into authorising the song for the game’.

 

US lawsuits are usually published online via a system known as PACER but Miller Barondess has not yet made any copies available. However, another US legal watchdog, Radar Online, revealed that the Guns N’ Roses case was filed in the county of Los Angeles on November 23.

 

According to a press release, the complaint filed by Miller Barondess states "Welcome to the Jungle is a highly-renowned rock song of immense popularity...[and] is regarded by fans and critics alike as one of the greatest hard rock songs of all time. Guitar Hero has generated well over a billion dollars in revenue for Activision.”

 

Rose claims that he owns all of Guns N’ Roses assets including their rights and trademarks. However it remains unclear why he has waited three years to sue Activision over the use of the song.

 

The Miller Barondess case goes on to allege that Activison’s executive vice president of music affairs, Tim Riley, lied to Rose about the company’s intentions, specifically about the use of the image of ex-guitarist Slash.

 

The use of an image of Slash is the key issue as he left the band in 1996 and Rose claims he is careful not to associate him with Guns N’ Roses any more.

 

The press release states "Riley 'guaranteed' that, provided Rose agreed to approve Activision's use of Welcome to the Jungle, there would be no use of Slash in association with Guns 'N' Roses and 'Welcome to the Jungle'.