Switched has a new home! Huffpost Tech.

Click here to visit the new home of Switched!

Hot on HuffPost Tech:

See More Stories
AOL Tech

Cypress Hill Sideman Sues 'Grand Theft Auto' for Impersonation

by Lee Bains on December 10, 2010 at 07:30 AM

'c.j.' johnsonAs Michael "Shagg" Washington's attorney would have you believe, Rockstar Games used his client's likeness in 'Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas,' without his consent or knowledge. Washington, who is said to have been a backup singer for Cypress Hill (although we aren't able to confirm this), claimed in a complaint filed Monday that Rockstar used him as a sort of advisor for the game. "After almost two hours of questioning which covered many topics of gang and street life, the meeting ended and the plaintiff was allowed to leave," reads the complaint. According to Washington, Rockstar employees promised to notify him if they wound up using his character. He never heard from them.

Then, as the complaint would have it, Washington learned of the game from his nephew this past July. Upon reflection, he saw similarities between himself and the character 'C.J.,' and "it became clear that Rockstar had stolen his image and never paid him." Washington is seeking 25-percent of the game's profits (which, at present, would be around $250 million), claiming fraud, misappropriation of likeness and infringement. Hopefully, if he wins, Washington will share some of that money with his (alleged) employers in Cypress Hill. We'd imagine that these days, for B-Real, finances must b-real tight.

Tags: cypresshill, gaming, grandtheftauto, GTA, law, lawsuit, michael shagg washington, MichaelShaggWashington, music, rockstar, top

HuffPost AOL Social News Most Popular