Operator Mara might not have been as original as we expected her to be, as a writer sued Activision Blizzard over her existence. There’s much to uncover here, as the likeness of Operator Mara alongside November Renaissance character Cade Janus purportedly had the same model (Alex Zedra) and make-up artist for mock test shots.
The disjunct is very clear, as plaintiff Clayton Haugen manufactured the image of Cade Janus on 2017, while Mara the operator was released 2019. On the papers, it also read that the copy was highly intentional, citing:
“In addition to hiring the same talent, they also hired the same makeup professional who had prepared the talent for Haugen’s Cade Janus Photographs,” lawyers wrote in the complaint. “They instructed the makeup professional to prepare the talent exactly as she had done for Haugen’s Cade Janus Photographs. They instructed her to style the talent’s hair exactly as she had done for Haugen’s Cade Janus Photographs, even using the same hair piece extension.”
Haugen alleges that Activision Blizzard and Infinity Ward required the model and makeup artist to sign non-disclosure agreements to “conceal their planned infringement.”
With the full copy of the complaint available above, you can now tell yourself what the jig is up. So what are your thoughts? Is it a blatant copy? Let us know in the comments section below!
