'Cypress Hill' band member sues Rockstar Games for $250 million

'Cypress Hill' band member sues Rockstar Games for $250 million
Michael "Shag" Washington, backup singer for the band Cypress Hill has sued Rockstar Games and publisher Take-Two for $250 million dollars, for allegedly using his likeness without permission in the blockbuster hit Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

$250 million is 25 percent of the profits the game has made since its release in 2004.



Washington says that while the game was in development, Rockstar consulted him for a real-life look into "gangs and street life," promising to call him if they used any of his material in the game.

The singer says now that the entire appearance and story of Carl "CJ" Johnson, the main character, is based on what he consulted Rockstar and his own life story.

Washington says he never heard back from Rockstar and only just heard of the game after a nephew purchased it for his Mac last month. After playing the game, Washington says he believes the stories and appearance of the main character are based off his life and info.

"Upon examination of images of 'CJ' and comparison to his photos from that year and other evidence, it became clear that Rockstar had stolen his image and never paid him," reads the suit (via GamaSutra).

Take-Two and Rockstar both deny the claim and "will vigorously defend" themselves in court.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 10 Dec 2010 1:08
Tags
Lawsuit Grand Theft Auto
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  • 23 comments
  • Joshewah

    When your music isn't selling anymore and you need money to buy a QP of dank shit, turn to lawsuits, America's #1 burgeoning career.

    I hope this knucklehead loses hard.

    X360 - iXtreme1.4 ||| Xbox - EvoX Dash ||| PS2 - CC 2.0 PRO SLE ||| Dreamcast ...lol ||| NDS - Acekard 2/M3 Simply/EZ Flash 3-1 ||| Rooted HTC Hero with Ic3rom

    10.12.2010 01:30 #1

  • Zealousi

    uumm anyone noticed that this was such a big release 6 years ago, millions of copys have been sold and downloaded being one of the best GTA's to help develop the engine also being the one that kicked ass the most. Why the hell does he sue the biggest and best Next gen Developer 6 years and GTA IV with expansion packs released....hhmmm.

    Did he run out of money for crack?

    Rockstar you have the entire community's support, this case will be thrown out of court as this guy has no leg to stand on. Is he really going to document his criminal history to court because someone thought it would make a good story, i don't think criminals don't get paid for their story's by the media anyway.

    10.12.2010 03:04 #2

  • Mrguss

    His life is not unique....is just a pure coincidence !

    10.12.2010 04:04 #3

  • KillerBug

    "The singer says now that the entire appearance and story of Carl "CJ" Johnson, the main character, is based on what he consulted Rockstar and his own life story."

    Wow...I didn't know that Michael "Shag" Washington harvested half a field of marijuana with a thresher, then burned the rest with a flamethrower while the DEA was coming down. I had no idea that he had robbed a casino, stolen harrier jump jets, or invaded a top secret military base to steal a jetpack either. He should write a book or something.

    10.12.2010 05:12 #4

  • Zealousi

    Originally posted by KillerBug: "The singer says now that the entire appearance and story of Carl "CJ" Johnson, the main character, is based on what he consulted Rockstar and his own life story."

    Wow...I didn't know that Michael "Shag" Washington harvested half a field of marijuana with a thresher, then burned the rest with a flamethrower while the DEA was coming down. I had no idea that he had robbed a casino, stolen harrier jump jets, or invaded a top secret military base to steal a jetpack either. He should write a book or something.
    hahaha nice as all ways

    I love this site for moments like this :P

    10.12.2010 09:39 #5

  • hoddey

    So you wanna sue /rockstar, and live large
    a big house, 5 cars, you're in charge
    comin' up in the world, don't trust no body
    gotta look over your shoulder constantly.....

    10.12.2010 09:44 #6

  • biglo30

    Originally posted by Zealousi: Originally posted by KillerBug: "The singer says now that the entire appearance and story of Carl "CJ" Johnson, the main character, is based on what he consulted Rockstar and his own life story."

    Wow...I didn't know that Michael "Shag" Washington harvested half a field of marijuana with a thresher, then burned the rest with a flamethrower while the DEA was coming down. I had no idea that he had robbed a casino, stolen harrier jump jets, or invaded a top secret military base to steal a jetpack either. He should write a book or something.
    hahaha nice as all ways

    I love this site for moments like this :P
    lol +1 is all that needs to be said

    10.12.2010 09:49 #7

  • DVDBack23

    Originally posted by hoddey: So you wanna sue /rockstar, and live large
    a big house, 5 cars, you're in charge
    comin' up in the world, don't trust no body
    gotta look over your shoulder constantly.....
    +1 for this post also haha

    10.12.2010 10:50 #8

  • xlee888 (unverified)

    So if everything in the game was true about him, shouldn't he be in jail for drive by shootings, human battery, drug trafficking, prostitution, drugs, and murder?

    10.12.2010 11:03 #9

  • Mr-Movies

    He must be Insane In The Membrane, right!

    10.12.2010 15:48 #10

  • Trilby (unverified)

    He must be insane in the membrane to be lying about being a member of Cypress Hill!!!! ;D

    10.12.2010 17:05 #11

  • jookycola

    Quote:Michael "Shag" Washington, backup singer for the band Cypress Hill Not even really a member of the band. This suit is like a background dancer for Michael Jacksons stage concert suing the makers of the MJ Experience game because it features background dancers. It makes no sense.

    10.12.2010 17:21 #12

  • stuntman_

    Every rapper has the same stupid growing up in the hood story this one isn't any different. I hope Rockstar never uses another character like CJ San Andreas was by far the worst story of any GTA game




    10.12.2010 18:46 #13

  • Zoo_Look

    Originally posted by Zealousi: Originally posted by KillerBug: "The singer says now that the entire appearance and story of Carl "CJ" Johnson, the main character, is based on what he consulted Rockstar and his own life story."

    Wow...I didn't know that Michael "Shag" Washington harvested half a field of marijuana with a thresher, then burned the rest with a flamethrower while the DEA was coming down. I had no idea that he had robbed a casino, stolen harrier jump jets, or invaded a top secret military base to steal a jetpack either. He should write a book or something.
    hahaha nice as all ways

    I love this site for moments like this :P
    Apparently, Washington can also:
    Change his hair style/colour and even grow new beards from clean shaven by simply talking to a barber, change his entire outfit in seconds, eat meals with 3 bites and no swallowing, carry a mobile phone bigger then your average laptop in his trouser pocket (even if that trouser has no pocket), magically make his armaments disappear from view, produce a stream of ammo from mid air and can stand in such a way so that nearly half his body either becomes transparent or embedded in rocks or buildings!

    They could be mirror images... I say could be, because in some mirrors, neither has a reflection!

    10.12.2010 21:42 #14

  • o0cynix0o

    Originally posted by Zoo_Look: Originally posted by Zealousi: Originally posted by KillerBug: "The singer says now that the entire appearance and story of Carl "CJ" Johnson, the main character, is based on what he consulted Rockstar and his own life story."

    Wow...I didn't know that Michael "Shag" Washington harvested half a field of marijuana with a thresher, then burned the rest with a flamethrower while the DEA was coming down. I had no idea that he had robbed a casino, stolen harrier jump jets, or invaded a top secret military base to steal a jetpack either. He should write a book or something.
    hahaha nice as all ways

    I love this site for moments like this :P
    Apparently, Washington can also:
    Change his hair style/colour and even grow new beards from clean shaven by simply talking to a barber, change his entire outfit in seconds, eat meals with 3 bites and no swallowing, carry a mobile phone bigger then your average laptop in his trouser pocket (even if that trouser has no pocket), magically make his armaments disappear from view, produce a stream of ammo from mid air and can stand in such a way so that nearly half his body either becomes transparent or embedded in rocks or buildings!

    They could be mirror images... I say could be, because in some mirrors, neither has a reflection!
    GOD Mode...don't forget GOD Mode. He will also have the ability to try the "Try to sue Rockstar for easy cash" mission over countless times if he fails.


    I wonder if the alleged "Silver Dildo" did anything for him in his real life?

    “Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out. Forget this... and attaining enlightenment is the least of your problems.”
    –Zen Judaism by Someone Clever

    10.12.2010 22:04 #15

  • KillerBug

    Originally posted by Zoo_Look: Originally posted by Zealousi: Originally posted by KillerBug: "The singer says now that the entire appearance and story of Carl "CJ" Johnson, the main character, is based on what he consulted Rockstar and his own life story."

    Wow...I didn't know that Michael "Shag" Washington harvested half a field of marijuana with a thresher, then burned the rest with a flamethrower while the DEA was coming down. I had no idea that he had robbed a casino, stolen harrier jump jets, or invaded a top secret military base to steal a jetpack either. He should write a book or something.
    hahaha nice as all ways

    I love this site for moments like this :P
    Apparently, Washington can also:
    Change his hair style/colour and even grow new beards from clean shaven by simply talking to a barber, change his entire outfit in seconds, eat meals with 3 bites and no swallowing, carry a mobile phone bigger then your average laptop in his trouser pocket (even if that trouser has no pocket), magically make his armaments disappear from view, produce a stream of ammo from mid air and can stand in such a way so that nearly half his body either becomes transparent or embedded in rocks or buildings!

    They could be mirror images... I say could be, because in some mirrors, neither has a reflection!
    Most importantly, he can escape any police chase (even ones involving the military) just by going to his house and touching a giant magical spinning floppy disk. This is the true secret to real-world ganglife...the giant magical spinning floppy disk.

    10.12.2010 23:25 #16

  • Zoo_Look

    Originally posted by KillerBug: Most importantly, he can escape any police chase (even ones involving the military) just by going to his house and touching a giant magical spinning floppy disk. This is the true secret to real-world ganglife...the giant magical spinning floppy disk. That would explain why Washington managed to avoid a 20 stretch while living his gangsta lifestyle... I think you just helped his case with that post :(

    11.12.2010 00:26 #17

  • TBandit

    hahaha im surprised more rappers didnt sue who live on the westcoast like in la

    11.12.2010 17:23 #18

  • Mrguss

    I think Michael "Shag" smoke so much Crack that he is living largely in the "Lalaland" of the video game !

    11.12.2010 19:12 #19

  • SenDAWG (unverified)

    DJ Pooh (of "Friday", "Next Friday" & "Friday After Next" fame) wrote the story for GTV San Andreas.
    Washington, you wanna take it up with someone, take it up with him.
    CJ doesnt even look like him. I think RockStar tried extra-hard to make the character look as generic as possible to avoid resemblance issues.

    11.12.2010 19:53 #20

  • biglo30

    Originally posted by stuntman_: Every rapper has the same stupid growing up in the hood story this one isn't any different. I hope Rockstar never uses another character like CJ San Andreas was by far the worst story of any GTA game I personally liked that GTA the most.

    12.12.2010 03:32 #21

  • aq (unverified)

    Originally posted by SenDAWG: DJ Pooh (of "Friday", "Next Friday" & "Friday After Next" fame) wrote the story for GTV San Andreas.
    Washington, you wanna take it up with someone, take it up with him.
    CJ doesnt even look like him. I think RockStar tried extra-hard to make the character look as generic as possible to avoid resemblance issues.
    i always thought ryder looked like eazy e

    12.12.2010 15:30 #22

  • Zoo_Look

    I always thought the Cop sounded like Samuel L. Jackson... :o/

    15.12.2010 13:45 #23

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