Activision Blizzard sued for female Call of Duty: Modern Warfare character Mara

Activision Blizzard sued for female Call of Duty: Modern Warfare character Mara

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In 2019, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare publisher Activision Blizzard has introduced a new character to its game: an operator named Mara. A writer and photographer now claims that the company deliberately modeled Mara on his own character, Cade Janus, from a short story called November Renaissance.

Prosecutor Clayton Haugen filed a lawsuit in Texas court on Tuesday, according to court documents first published by Torrent Freak. He claims that Activision Blizzard and developer Infinity Ward deliberately planned to model Mara after Cade Janus – including hiring the same model, Alex Zedra, to reproduce the photo shoot and scan her image for use in the game. Haugen said the developer posted his Cade Janus photos on the wall of the photography studio Call of Duty: Modern Warfare shoot.

Haugen said he originally hired Zedra in 2017 to model as Cade Janus before transferring the story to film studios. He later published photos on his website, in a calendar and on Instagram.

“Apart from employing the same talent, they also hired the same make-up professional who prepared the talent for Haugen’s Cade Janus Photographs,” lawyers wrote in the complaint. ‘They commissioned the make-up professional to prepare the talent exactly as she did for Haugen’s Cade Janus Photographs. They instructed her to style the talent’s hair as it was done for Haugen’s Cade Janus Photographs, even with the same hair extension. ”

Haugen claims that Activision required Blizzard and Infinity Ward from the model and makeup artist to sign non-disclosure agreements to “hide their planned violation.”

Image: Clayton Haugen / Activision Blizzard via complaint

The character Mara, along with another character named Nikto, has been added Call of Duty: Modern warfare in 2019. The character was available as part of the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare season one battle pass, which was originally available for 1,000 COD points, or about $ 10. A number of skins are available for the character for additional COD points. The one, the Kawaii Cat skin, places Mara in a cat-military helmet and unlocks a kitten charm called ‘Nyan Nyan’ that hangs from her weapon. The bundle costs 2400 COD points.

Neither Haugen nor Activision Blizzard responded to Polygon’s request for comment.

You can read a full copy of the complaint below.

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