This is about "likeness". Here's an example:

When making a Comic Book adaption of a movie or TV series, the artists are usually restricted so that they cannot make the drawn characters resemble the ACTORS too closely (because that would infringe upon the rights of the actors themselves who need to protect their IMAGE and LIKENESS).

An example; in the late 1970's, when Marvel Comics had drawn the characters within its adaptions of Battlestar Galactica and Star Wars too closely to the likeness of the ACTORS, they ran into trouble. Even though the likeness was only apparent on a few panels of the comics, it caused problems for the artists and Marvel, and warnings were issued. Sometimes the rights for "likeness" may be granted, but that's apparently NOT what happened here.

That is only one example, and an old one at that. If activision wanted the ACTUAL "Romantics" (exact likeness and almost exact sound) then they would need to negotiate THAT arrangement with the group.

The song "What I Like about you" is one of the most SUCCESSFUL rock songs in the HISTORY of rock 'n roll and a true Cinderella story (since it never charted in the top 40). The Romantics are a bunch of great, hard working musicians who have paid their dues 100 times over. They are not washed up, or poor by any means.

This is a legitimate case regarding LIKENESS. Any actor or musician needs to protect their own LIKENESS and this is not the first time such a case has happened.

Anyone who cannot understand this situation has been spending way too much time in front of a video screen playing crappy video games. I would suggest getting something called a "life".

Joey McDonald
"Romantics Fan"