It just never ends, does it? In response to No Doubt’s lawsuit over becoming a “virtual karaoke” act in Band Hero (which in turn followed similar noises from Courtney Love regarding Kurt Cobain’s image in Guitar Hero 5), The Hollywood Reporter is, uh, reporting that Activision has whipped up a counterclaim against the ska-pop band.

In the filing, Activision responds to many of No Doubt’s allegations by noting that “it has been publicly known that certain users of ‘Guitar Hero’ videogames are able to ‘unlock’ in-game characters and can then choose to play songs performed by other artists using ‘unlocked’ characters.”

But it goes further than defense; later in the filing Activision goes on the attack, asking for monetary damages thanks to the following:

No Doubt also agreed to provide services, including marketing services, to promote the ‘Band Hero’ videogame. Even though Activision fully paid No Doubt under the parties’ contract, No Doubt failed and refused to perform the services No Doubt had agreed to provide … No Doubt has been unjustly enriched and should be required to disgorge all benefits it wrongfully received.

Feel free to look over the entire filing in this PDF obtained by the Hollywood Reporter. It’s a riveting — OK, interesting — read, especially the attached contract, which lays out the band’s responsibilities in marketing the game, like this one:

Artist shall provide two (2) recorded video ’shout-outs’ (e.g., ‘Hi, this is No Doubt and we’re in the new Band Hero game’), subject to Artist’s scheduling demands and subject to Artist’s review and approval of the
contents of such ’shout outs’.

It’s a rare and interesting look into the carefully-crafted marketing plans of big-name games like this one.

[Read, via @RockBandAide]

Taylor Guitars, makers of gorgeous-sounding acoustics, has hooked up with Activision for a quick Band Hero giveaway. By heading over to the contest page and entering your contact info, you’re entered to win a pretty nifty (though definitely Nintendo-centric) Band Hero package:

1 Band Hero Band Kit for the Wii
1 Band Hero DS Bundle (includes game, guitar grip and drum skin)
1 Band Hero T-Shirt (most likely in purple and/or pink)
and the big prize: 1 Taylor Swift Baby Taylor guitar

The contest ends December 4, so get moving if you’re interested.

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Especially if you bought Band Hero. If you did, you can head over to bandhero.com/MeetTaylorSwift and enter the code from the back of your instruction manual to be entered into a drawing for a trip for two to a Taylor Swift concert, complete with a meet-and-greet with the young megastar.

Other prizes include tickets to a Swift show and a meet-and-greet (no travel included), a Band Hero guitar faceplate autographed by Swift…and, uh, a T-shirt. But hey, those other three prizes are pretty sweet if you’re into the pop country, right?

Oh, and if you don’t own Band Hero, don’t worry: It’s illegal to run a contest like this without including a way to enter with “no purchase necessary.” Instead, you can enter via the standard 3-by-5 postcard route. Take a look at the official rules to get all those fine-print details.

I’ve already added this to the roundup of reviews for Band Hero, but in case you’re not feverishly hitting Refresh on that post (and because my editors like it when I send them traffic), I wanted to point out that my review of the game is up at GameSpy.

Here is a quote that describes a scenario I still am not particularly proud of:

Even Taylor Swift’s “Picture to Burn” — and I can’t believe I’m saying this — even that marvel of pop-country is seriously fun on guitar thanks to a couple banjo breakdowns that add a welcome and surprising challenge for those used to playing mostly rock.

So come on over to GameSpy and mock my clear lack of sense, taste, and/or masculinity.

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