Kotaku
Kotaku sister site Idolator reports that former Deee-Lite singer Lady Miss Kier (a.k.a. Kierin Kirby) just lost a lawsuit against Sega Japan alleging that Space Channel 5's character Ulala is ripping off the Lady's schtick.
Says the Legal Reader:
Kirby was not interested and declined to cut a deal or give Sega permission to use her songs, likeness, or anything else. Subsequently, Kirby discovered that Sega had released the game and that it included a dancing female character named "Ulala" who Kirby felt resembled her Lady Miss Kier character in several respects. Among other "signature" characteristics, Lady Miss Kier was known for saying "ooh la la," as she does while introducing herself in the Groove is in the Heart video. Kirby thought Sega's use of "Ulala" was an obvious rip-off of her signature "ooh la la," and noted several other apparent similarities between Ulala and Lady Miss Kier.
Kirby charged misapporpriation of likeness but lost the case, partially because Sega claimed to never have heard of Deee-Lite, Kirby's band. Which is a bizarre claim if it's true they contacted her to do work for the game. How else would they have heard of her?
More here [Idolator]
