GTA 6 maker Rockstar is once more accused of utilizing somebody’s likeness in its video games with out permission.
This time, it is Lawrence Sullivan. Generally known as the “Florida Joker” because of their facial tattoos, known as out Rockstar on TikTok twice not lengthy after the GTA 6 trailer dropped, telling the event studio “you took my likeness, you took my life.” He goes on to state Rockstar owes him “a mil or two.”
Within the GTA 6 video, an individual with facial tattoos harking back to Sullivan is proven on the 1:04 mark sporting trademark orange jail apparel. Whereas the tattooing across the eyes seems to be comparable, the remainder of the character’s facial ink is totally different. However not sufficient to fulfill Sullivan.
@lawrence.sullivan0 #gta6 #gta6new #gtaonline #gta6joker #florida #maimijoker #gta6 #floridajoker #miami #305 #727 #gta6trailer #thejoker #facetattoos #jokersmile #dc #fyp #joker ♬ unique sound – Lawrence Sullivan
Sullivan grew to become web well-known in 2017 when their Miami-Dade County mugshot made headlines after being arrested for pointing a gun at site visitors.
Sullivan made the information once more in 2018 after their arrest in St. Petersburg, Florida. The arrest stemmed from a warrant out of Miami-Dade for probation violation concerning the unique 2017 cost of carrying a hid firearm.
@lawrence.sullivan0 #florida #jokerchallenge #gta6 #gta6trailer #gta6new #facetattoo ♬ unique sound – Lawrence Sullivan
Rockstar has at all times been one to poke enjoyable at present occasions, counterculture, and the notorious utilizing parody or satire; subsequently, it is fairly doable the studio was impressed by Sullivan – however that has but to be decided.
This is not the primary time Rockstar has had somebody cry foul, because the studio was sued in 2014 by actor Lindsay Lohan, who claimed a personality in GTA 5 used their likeness. The swimsuit went to court docket in 2016 with the Manhattan appeals court docket panel ruling in Rockstar’s favor.
The court docket said the studio “doesn’t fall beneath the statutory definitions of ‘promoting’ or ‘commerce’. This online game’s distinctive story, characters, dialogue, and surroundings, mixed with the participant’s means to decide on easy methods to proceed within the sport, render it a piece of fiction and satire.”
Throughout this similar session, a swimsuit filed by Karen Gravano, the daughter of Mafia informant Sammy “The Bull” Gravano, was dismissed. On this case, it was claimed the GTA 5 character Andrea Bottino was based mostly on Karen Gravano.
