Los Angeles - Justin Bieber is being sued by game developers after he threatened them with legal action for using his image for a mobile app.
RC3, the makers of a game entitled Joustin Beaver, admit the app is a parody of the Never Say Never hitmaker's life, but they are reportedly keen for a judge to rule they are permitted to market the app under the free speech rule of the First Amendment.
In the company's lawsuit, obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, it states: "In an effort to comment on the Defendant's life, the Plaintiff, RC3, developed the aforementioned App entitled Joustin Beaver.
"The App, a video game, is a parody of the commercial success of the Defendant and any celebrity."
Cease and desist letter
RC3 deny the app is an infringement of Justin's intellectual property rights or trademark.
In the game, a player has to get a cartoon beaver - who bears a resemblance to the pop singer - to sign 'Otter-graphs', while defending him from 'Phot-hogs' as they float downstream.
The 17-year-old singer's representatives previously issued a cease and desist letter to the company demanding the $0.99 app be removed from sale on iTunes and they reportedly asked RC3 to hand over their accounting and revenue figures.