A few months ago, there was a bit of a flap over the use of Kurt Cobain's likeness in the video game "Guitar Hero 5." Specifically, fans, former bandmates and Courtney Love were all bothered by the fact that you could manipulate the game to make the Nirvana frontman's avatar sing songs by Bon Jovi and Bush. The just-released "Band Hero" has come under similar fire, this time from Gwen Stefani and No Doubt. The band's virtual selves are included in the game, and just as with Cobain, players can program Stefani's character to sing songs that don't belong to No Doubt. And once again, the problem the band has is with the types of material that can be put into Stefani's mouth.

The song in question? The Rolling Stones' 1969 hit "Honky Tonk Women." The formal complaint filed by the band states, "While No Doubt are avid fans of the Rolling Stones and even have performed in concerts with the Rolling Stones, the Character Manipulation Feature results in an unauthorized performance by the Gwen Stefani avatar in a male voice boasting about having sex with prostitutes."

Activision, the company behind both "Guitar Hero 5" and "Band Hero," said in a statement, "Activision believes it is within its legal rights with respect to the use and portrayal of the band members in the game and that this lawsuit is without merit."

The most interesting thing about both of these suits isn't so much that the avatars can be forced to sing other people's music, but that it's the specific songs involved that seem to set people off. Stefani's camp is bugged by the lyrical content of "Honky Tonk Women," while the Cobain complaint was based around the fact that it was insulting for the Nirvana singer to be performing songs from bands who ripped him off. As video games become a bigger share of the music market, the issue of artist control will most certainly become a bigger deal as time goes on. The resolution of both of these suits will be important to the future of a very lucrative corner of the industry.

Welcome to the weekly Newsroom Poll, where we will give you a sneak peek into the lives and minds of some of the correspondents, writers, editors and producers here at MTV News. Every week, they'll answer a poll question that will reveal some of what we talk about behind the scenes here in the newsroom. Enjoy!

There's been a lot of talk about Taylor Momsen and her band the Pretty Reckless in the Newsroom this week. Who does the band most remind us of? Are they any good? And will Momsen have to fight off Courtney Love? But mostly it made us think about other actors who have tried their hand at music. So this week's question is: What is the best — or worst — actor-turned-musician transition? Read the Newsroom's answers below, then leave your own thoughts in the comments.

Kyle Anderson
This is one of those debates that gets me into trouble and forces people to question my rock critic membership card, because I tend to think that these projects are never as bad as people think. I thought Scarlett Johansson's collection of Tom Waits tunes was actually pretty good, and I've always had a little weak spot for Bruce Willis' blues album. But the one person who stands out for me is Zooey Deschanel, who teamed up with M. Ward for one of my favorite albums of last year as She & Him. I don't care for Deschanel as an actress (she sort of reminds me of Katie Holmes on "Dawson's Creek," where her entire acting range consists of looking vaguely spacey and adjusting her hair), but the things that bother me about her in movies totally hit home on record. Sure, the album blatantly borrows from Dusty Springfield and any number of country balladeers, but her voice is simple and the songs are unfussy and sweet. (I don't even mind her in that cotton ad that plays before videos on this site). The thought of seeing "500 Days of Summer" makes me want to stab my cuticles repeatedly with knitting needles, but "This Is Not a Test" and "Sentimental Heart" are in constant rotation on my iPod.
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Two nights ago, "Gossip Girl" star Taylor Momsen celebrated her sixteenth birthday with a party in New York City that featured a performance by her band the Pretty Reckless. While Momsen's band draws on a lot of different influences, it's clear that their look and sound draw a lot from Courtney Love and her band Hole (one listen to the Pretty Reckless makes it fairly clear that Momsen has listened to Celebrity Skin on repeat).

Though imitation is said to be the sincerest form of flattery, Love apparently doesn't appreciate the homage. She took to Twitter to cut down Momsen (along with the Veronicas), saying "Why does Taylor Whatsit deeply disturb me and why is the Blonde one from the verons or whatever they are called wearing my actual clothes?" She also told Momsen, "I don't watch tv or read teen mags and gossip rags so I wouldn't know. Do not still 'like my music' please."

Courtney has a history of feuding with people, so she's no stranger to public beef. She normally keeps it a war of words, but what if the two of them actually threw down? We hit the street to sample the folks waiting to get into today's episode of "It's On with Alexa Chung" and asked them which would put the other one to sleep in a cage fight.

The laughably unscientific results show that more than three quarters — 77 percent, to be exact — of the respondents would place the odds on Courtney to knock out Momsen. It's pretty obvious, really: She's got the obvious size and experience advantage, and as several of those polled said, "Courtney is a badass."

Two people in the Nirvana universe share a birthday today. Courtney Love turns 45 today. The controversial wife of Kurt Cobain has had a bit of a checkered history, but it's hard to deny the fact that she released one of the definitive albums of the grunge era (Hole's Live Through This) and her first solo album was totally underrated. Love hasn't released any new music since 2004, but supposedly we'll be seeing a new solo album, a Hole reunion, or both by the end of the year.

In a strange bit of cosmic coincidence, today also marks the 18th birthday of Spencer Elden, better known as the nude baby on the cover of Nirvana's Nevermind. Elden's parents were paid $200 to take the photo, with the fishhook and dollar bill added later. In an interview in 2007, Elden remarked that he sort of feels like a porn star because so many people have seen his penis.

Nevermind represented the beginning of the '90s alt-rock revolution and made Nirvana into one of the biggest bands in the world — and it also turned both Elden and Love into generational icons. In honor of their birthdays, enjoy a live version of Nirvana's "Drain You."

If reports are to be believed, Michael Jackson may have as many as 100 unreleased songs that he left behind. Though it may be quite some time before any songs ever get out, it's certain that fans will be clamoring for songs they've never heard.

But if pop history has taught us anything, it's that posthumous music releases can be a bit of a nightmare both for the people in control of the estate and the fans craving new music. In fact, sometimes that music actually hurts the legacy of the artist.

When Jimi Hendrix died in 1970, he left behind at least one incomplete album and many more unfinished tracks, demos and outtakes. But for decades, the previously unreleased songs were released haphazardly and were underproduced. It wasn't until Hendrix's sister managed to gain control of his catalog that the recordings were considered reasonable enough for commercial release. Hendrix albums have slowed and there are still legal battles over Hendrix's legacy, but the reconstructed First Rays of the New Rising Sun and the restored Live at Monterey are both keepers. But be warned: A lot of the post-1970 Hendrix releases are horrible.

The same could be said of Tupac, but in reverse. Read more...

If you woke up this morning with a certain tingle on the left side of your body, don't panic — you've probably got a severe case of March Madness. Either that, or you're having a heart attack and should probably go directly to the emergency room. Seriously, go! Now!

Still here? Good. That means that you're as fired up for the NCAA men's basketball tournament as we are. You've probably already printed out your bracket, eyed a few upsets and chipped $10 into the office pool. But, if you're like us, you're probably also looking for that inside edge ... a few tips that'll have you cutting down the nets (and counting some cash) on April 6, when the NCAA champ is crowned.

Well, we think we've found it: Music.

That's because this year's field of 64 (or actually, 65, given that Alabama State and Morehead State will tip off Tuesday for the right to be crushed by #1 seed Louisville) has a decidedly musical flair. There are colleges from huge sonic hot spots who have a legitimate shot at taking home the title, and a bunch of low-seeded teams from places with solid musical pedigrees that could end up shocking the world. Heck, Moby, Three 6 Mafia and Daniel Johnston are all in the conversation.

So, for your wagering benefit, here's our look at Musical March Madness — our favorite teams, based solely on their musical roots: famous alumni, hometown scenes, etc. May it guide you to victory. Hey, it's probably as reliable as flipping a coin.

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MTV News is on the scene at the 81st Annual Academy Awards! We don't want to leave you out of the action, so all night long, Larry Carroll, Benjamin Wagner, Vanessa White Wolf and Jonathan Mussman will be logging on to tell you what's going on backstage, in the bleachers and on the red carpet on Hollywood's big night.

1:12 p.m. PT in the Kodak Theatre: The theater is totally reconfigured — basically 13 or so semi circle seating sections in place of the usual orchestra seats. It's very tight and jam-packed full of big names.

There will be some A-list singers performing on the show. Ones our audience is familiar with. And for the first year I recall, the show will feature men handing out the statuettes. The show producers are Broadway-trained so expect it for overall look and feel. Host Hugh Jackman is looking very jacked-up/muscular, more so than usual, since he was shooting "Wolverine." Read more...

By Rya Backer

If you didn't see Joaquin Phoenix on "Letterman" last night, chances are you've read about it — it clearly ranks with one of the late-night king's all-time most awkward interviews.

Whether or not Joaquin is really that despondent and detached — or just the most media-savvy man in showbiz — is open to debate, but that's not the point. At times like this, we can reflect on some of Letterman's interviews that have gone terribly wrong ... Read more...

Resident "American Idol" expert Jim Cantiello brings you a minute-by-minute recap of every episode right here! Keep checking for updates throughout the show, and don't miss out on his previous live blogs and other "Idol" news.

It's Tuesday night so that can only mean one thing: time to live-blog "American Idol!"

Tonight's auditions are going to take place in Jacksonville, Florida, which means I will probably be accused of being "an elitist journalist" by a reader again. Apologies in advance, MTV.COM user "George." It's not my fault I live in New York City. (Or, uh, I guess it is?)

Before we get to the bad singers and cliche-laden Ryan Seacrest voice-overs, I want to give a shout-out to two MTV.COM commenters from last week's "Idol" live-blog recap who made me happy.

The first shout-out goes to "Andrea," who topped my "my uncles made a cult movie" dare by writing, "My cat's cousin's aunt's ex-lover once dug through a trash can outside a 7/11 with Maru in Louisville. Beat that, MTV." Andrea, you totally win.

And the second shout-out goes to "reneeden" who, in response to Kara DioGuardi acknowledging contestant Joanna Pacitti's professional past, wrote, "Kara underwent a manual reboot after that system malfunction, I'm sure. Idol likes to keep major label skeletons (especially gems like Joanna's '06 debut) in the very back of their closet, buried underneath all the old Corey Clark CDs and Sanjaya's faux-hawk. The girl's pretty and has a good voice, but if Geffen Records and a feature in an MTV special (Anybody remember that? MTV's First Year - talk about WOW. She even got to work with Linda Perry!) can't make it happen, then I doubt Idol will do much more than cram her down our thoats until we want to spit her out with the not-quite-chewed remains of Kristy Lee Cook's 'career'."

Reneeden, you are so right! Not only was Joanna on that "First Year" special, but she was also featured on a "True Life" episode. So, does that mean we're related somehow? I am SO pulling those tapes out of the library tomorrow.

Enough of this tomfoolery. On with the blog!

7:47 pm - This is our last week of auditions, thankfully. I don't know how many more of these episodes I can take. You've seen one bad singer and/or mentally unstable social outcast...you've apparently seen Courtney Love perform live. Zing!

7:53 pm - I was hoping to take a new pic of myself (and the cats!) for the site tonight, but I came home to my Tivo not working and my digital camera battery was dead. I'm 99% sure that my wife is magnetic because every electronic item she's touched today is on the fritz. Stay away from the laptop, honey! This is a loaner from MTV!

7:55 pm - Five more minutes...

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Lily, oh Lily. I guess an apology just isn't good enough, is it? You know I love you and all your childish antics. You're like a not mentally ill Pete Doherty, or a slightly less disheveled Courtney Love. And yeah, I get that it stuck in your craw that Katy Perry once referred to herself as the "fatter version of Amy Winehouse and the skinnier version of Lily Allen." Who wouldn't be pissed about that? But c'mon, Katy apologized and said she "didn't mean anything by it."

But since you insist on picking public fights (watch your back, Elton) — not to mention refusing to wear a top at the beach — there you've gone and done it again: You claim on your Facebook page that you "have Katy Perry's number" and that you're just "waiting for her to open her mouth one more time then it hits Facebook," according to England's tabloid of record, The Sun. The paper also claimed you've joined the "I hate Katy Perry and her dumb-ass song 'I Kissed a Girl' " Facebook group, as well as the "Katy Perry? Who in the hell does she think she is" clique.
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