Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

Celebrity avatars are fair game for gamers, a New York court has ruled.

A Manhattan appeals court has tossed two lawsuits by actress Lindsay Lohan and “Mob Wives” star Karen Gravano against the makers of the popular and violent video game “Grand Theft Auto,” saying the First Amendment rights trump the celebrities’ invasion of privacy and stolen likeness claims.

Both Lohan and Gravano sued Take Two Interactive Software Inc. in 2014 for using their images for characters in the violent video game.

Lohan had argued that a look-a-like character named Lacey Jonas had her same bikini, shoulder-length, blond hair, jewelry, cell phone and even signature peace sign pose. Gravano, whose dad is the infamous mob killer turned rat Sammy “the Bull” Gravano,” said the storyline of her video game character Andrea Bottino mirrored her own life story about a mob daughter who moves out West to a series of safe houses after her father starts cooperating with the government.

But in a unanimous ruling Thursday a five judge panel said the suits had no merit because Take Two never used the women’s actual name, portrait or picture.

“The images are not of Lohan herself, but merely the avatar in the game that Lohan claims is a depiction of her,” the ruling says.

The panel responds to the women’s claims that the “video game depictions are close enough to be considered representations,” by saying that works of fiction and satire are protected under the First Amendment.

“This video game’s unique story, characters, dialogue, and environment, combined with the player’s ability to choose how to proceed in the game, render it a work of fiction or satire,” the decision says.