Wrestler Maxx Payne Sues Game Publisher

Ryan Barrett writes "The Associated Press reports that retired WCW wrestler, actor, and voice actor Maxx Payne is suing a group of game developers and publishers over the game Max Payne. In Payne's words, "I left wrestling to come home to Utah and be with my family and I find myself in the biggest battle of my life - to save my identity." This raises an interesting question: in most cases like this, we Slashdotters are quick to speak out in Payne's defense. But when the big bad corporations are game developers, do we still take the little guy's side?" Is this suit exposing a genuine rip-off, or is it just a naming coincidence?

Comments

oooh yeee-ah!

[Rhinobird]

I will crush you peetiful geeks with my fearsome lawsuit. How DAAAREE you steal my name for your pathetic excuse of a game. I will take back what is mine and spread your crushed and dessicated remains before me.

OOOOHHH YEE-AHH!

(wrong wrestler, but it's what came to mind...)

Ask Spike Lee!

[drdink]

I'm sure Spike Lee would side with him. After all, when Viacom decided to rename TNN to "SpikeTV", I know the first thing I thought was "Wow! Spike Lee is getting a TV channel named after him! Cool!!! The first network entirely for black filmmakers!" Oh wait, no I didn't. God, this is getting lame.

I want to do this too

[syrinx]

There's a book I saw last time I was in a bookstore called "We Need To Talk About Kevin". Obviously, the author is stealing my name. I'm going to sue the author, the publisher, the bookstore, and maybe McDonald's too, just out of general principle.

Lawsuits, they're the American way.

They should change his name to Max Power

[Cobralisk]

"I got it off a hair dryer" - Homer Simpson

Pseudonyms and political office

[Nakanai_de]

Here in Japan, there's an ex-wrestler named the Great Sasuke who won a position in the Iwate Prefectural Assembly under his stage persona. There was a minor scandal because he wore his mask to the legislative sessions and the ruling party didn't like that. The bill to forbid wearing masks failed, though, so he still goes to work every day in a business suit and a full-face mask.

My advice to him

[violent.ed]

... is join the ARMY and become a Major. Then he can sue Damon Wayans and Universal Studios!

ObSimpsonsReference

[Decaffeinated Jedi]

Maxx Payne, he's the man who's name you'd love to touch! But you mustn't touch! His name sounds good in your ear, but when you say it, you mustn't fear! 'Cause his name can be said by anyone!

DecafJedi

Easy win-win solution

[0x0d0a]

They should give him a free copy of Max Payne. I'd take it.

Re:Disclaimer?

[Sentry21]

The difference is that movies and TV shows accurately represent real life. For example, the only people who get killed in wartime are people who show pictures of their sweethearts back home, detectives always need to visit strip clubs during every investigation, and in every set of identical twins, one is always evil. This is why it's necessary to specifically say that the stories are fictional.

--Dan

Sue Everybody!!!

[johnkoer]

If this does not work out for Max he can always sue these 53 people. 53 more lawsuits means he would never have to work again.