Activision countersues TikTok user over audio recording
By ForGeeks Activision is suing a TikTok user after he threatened to sue it for using his content. According to the company’s lawsuit, TikTok user Anthony Fantano under the nickname TheNeedleTok contacted the corporation in June, threatening to sue it for using the audio of one of its videos.
Activision’s lawsuit claims that TikTok user Anthony Fantano threatened to sue the corporation for using the audio of one of its videos.
In the video, which is «a duet» with another previously uploaded video by another user, Fantano watches someone cut a pizza into increasingly smaller pieces, causing him to yell: «Enough slices». The clip has become a meme on the Internet and has reportedly been remade and reused multiple times over the past two years.
The clip has become a meme on the Internet and has reportedly been remade and reused multiple times over the past two years.
When Activision used the audio «it’s enough slices» in its own TikTok video promoting Crash Bandicoot sneakers, however, Fantano contacted it and threatened to sue. The lawsuit alleges that Fantano sent a letter to the corporation asking it to remove the video and demanding a settlement. The company responded, denying that it had done anything illegal, but agreed to remove the video anyway «to avoid ligitimation and without admitting liability».
And the company agreed to remove the video anyway.
Afterward, Fantano allegedly contacted Activision again, saying that removing the video was not enough and that he was prepared to sue in New York court («although neither the defendant nor Activision are New Yorkers»). The next day, Activision spoke with Fantano’s attorney and said he wants a «six-figure sum» as a settlement. In addition, the company says other companies have already entered into similar settlements with Fantano, «to avoid legal fees».
Activision’s attorney said the company is seeking a similar settlement with Fantano, «to avoid legal fees».
