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IMAGE IN VIDEO GAME NOT RECOGNIZABLE AS PLAINTIFF, CIVIL RIGHTS LAW (RIGHT TO PRIVACY) CAUSES OF ACTION PROPERLY DISMISSED (CT APP).

The Court of Appeals, in a full-fledged opinion by Judge Fahey, determined that, although the image of a person (an avatar) in a video game can constitute a portrait within the meaning of the Civil Rights Law, the image in this case was not recognizable as the plaintiff, Lindsay Lohan. “Inasmuch as she did not provide written consent for the use of what she characterizes as her portrait and her voice in GTAV [Grand Theft Auto V], plaintiff commenced this action seeking, among other things, compensatory and punitive damages for invasion of privacy in violation of Civil Rights Law §§ 50 and 51:”

The primary questions on this appeal are whether an avatar (that is, a graphical representation of a person, in a video game or like media) may constitute a “portrait” within the meaning of Civil Rights Law §§ 50 and 51 and, if so, whether the images in question in the video game central to this matter are recognizable as plaintiff. We conclude a computer generated image may constitute a portrait within the meaning of that law. We also conclude, however, that the subject images are not recognizable as plaintiff, and that the amended complaint, which contains four causes of action for violation of privacy pursuant to Civil Rights Law §§ 50 and 51, was properly dismissed. Lohan v Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., 2018 NY Slip Op 02208, CtApp 3-29-18

CIVIL RIGHTS LAW (IMAGE IN VIDEO GAME NOT RECOGNIZABLE AS PLAINTIFF, CIVIL RIGHTS LAW (RIGHT TO PRIVACY) CAUSES OF ACTION PROPERLY DISMISSED (CT APP))/PORTRAITS (CIVIL RIGHTS LAW, IMAGE IN VIDEO GAME NOT RECOGNIZABLE AS PLAINTIFF, CIVIL RIGHTS LAW (RIGHT TO PRIVACY) CAUSES OF ACTION PROPERLY DISMISSED (CT APP))/VIDEO GAMES (CIVIL RIGHTS LAW, IMAGE IN VIDEO GAME NOT RECOGNIZABLE AS PLAINTIFF, CIVIL RIGHTS LAW (RIGHT TO PRIVACY) CAUSES OF ACTION PROPERLY DISMISSED (CT APP))/AVATARS  (CIVIL RIGHTS LAW, IMAGE IN VIDEO GAME NOT RECOGNIZABLE AS PLAINTIFF, CIVIL RIGHTS LAW (RIGHT TO PRIVACY) CAUSES OF ACTION PROPERLY DISMISSED (CT APP))

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