Activision Blizzard, Inc. Adds Rudy Giuliani In Panamanian Dictator Lawsuit

CNBC's Julia Boorstin recently reported that Activision Blizzard, Inc. ATVI has former New York governor Rudy Giuliani acting as co-council to its defense in a lawsuit brought on by the former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega.

Noriega's decision to sue Activision comes from the use of his likeness in the popular first-person-shooter game "Call of Duty: Black Ops II.”

According to the report, Noriega believes that he deserves a share of the profits.

"What's astonishing is that Manuel Noriega, a notorious dictator who is in prison for the heinous crimes he committed, is upset about being portrayed as a criminal and enemy of the state in the game Call of Duty. Quite simply, it's absurd," said Giuliani in a press release.

Related Article: 5 Ways Microsoft Can Earn Billions Monetizing Minecraft

"I'm not interested in giving handouts to a convicted murderer and drug smuggler like Manuel Noriega who is demanding money from Activision and its popular Call of Duty franchise for simply exercising its right to free speech. Noriega's attack on the rights of Call of Duty comes as no surprise considering he's a lawless tyrant who trampled over the rights of his own people."

EuroGamer.net writer Wesley Yin-Poole also highlighted the story, and featured Activision's defense of free speech as well.

The company filed a motion to the Superior Court of the State of California to dismiss the case altogether under the anti-SLAPP statute.

"If successful, Noriega's efforts would give numerous historical and political figures - and their heirs - a veto right over their appearances in works of art, having a chilling effect on movies…TV shows…and books," Activision included in a statement covered by Yin-Poole.

Jason Cunningham had no position with the mentioned entities while writing this article. Visit Jason on Twitter at @JasonCunningham and @Benzinga.