A judge today tossed out a lawsuit from brutal ex-Panamania dictator Manuel Noriega, who sued video game developer Activision for being portrayed as a brutal Panamanian dictator in Call of Duty.
The suit, which gained press due to Noriega’s absurd objections over being depicted as a kidnapper and a murderer, gained even more steam when Activision hired ex-New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani to defend them. (Oddly enough, Noriega was convicted in three countries of — guess what — kidnapping and murdering people.)
“This ruling is an important victory and we thank the court for protecting free speech,” Giuliani said in a press release, according to Kotaku. “This was an absurd lawsuit from the very beginning and we’re gratified that in the end, a notorious criminal didn’t win. This is not just a win for the makers of Call of Duty, but is a victory for works of art across the entertainment and publishing industries throughout the world.”
In the game, Noriega is featured as a non-playable character who helps the CIA kidnap the game’s villain, and briefly re-appears through the story.
[Kotaku]
[Image via Call of Duty: Black Ops/Screenshot]
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