Photo credit: Denis Makarenko / Shutterstock.com
Selena Gomez has a lot on her plate right now – including taking legal action against companies that use her name without her permission!
The 27-year-old singer and actress is reportedly suing a mobile gaming company for $10 Million, for using her name and likeness on a mobile gaming app without her permission.
She also believes the game – which has received poor reviews from some users – is “bug-riddled”, and doesn’t want her name to be associated with such a questionable app.
According to Variety, the gaming app – entitled ‘Clothes Forever – Styling Game’ – is sold by China-based Guangzhou Feidong Software Technology Co. Its copyrights are held by British firm MutantBox Interactive Limited.
The ‘Clothes Forever – Styling Game’ requires users to dress Selena up in various different outfits. There are many in-app purchases, and users are encouraged to spend real money to ‘buy diamonds’ to go on a shopping spree with celebrities such as Selena, Taylor Swift, and even the Kardashians.
One of the images which have allegedly illegally been obtained is a picture of Selena from a 2015 cover of fashion mag Flare. It has since been recreated in cartoon form for use on the app.
“Selena Gomez’s career as a model, actress, musician, and entrepreneur has made Selena a household name,” her lawyer Alex Weingarten of Venable LLP told E! News.
“Forgame, Mutanbox and these other fly-by-night videogame developers have attempted to profit off of Selena’s signature look by misappropriating her likeness and inviting players to style Selena without her consent.
“Selena Gomez is a style icon. This is an egregious violation of Selena’s rights, which we will litigate vigorously to vindicate.”
The court documents are asking for Selena to receive damages for the “intentional and despicable misappropriation” of her name and image, as well as a cut of the profits.
The company has also been asked to cease its alleged illegal activity.