EA Sues Bell Helicopters After Using its Aircraft in Battlefield 3

Look up the word 'irony' in the dictionary, and this is what you will find. Electronic Arts is currently suing one of the US army's biggest suppliers, Bell Helicopters, over the use of real Bell choppers V-22 Osprey and AH-1Z Viper in Battlefield 3.

What's more, EA's seeking a ruling from a federal court that will allow it to use images of modern weapons and vehicles without paying licensing fees. The publisher filed the pre-emptive lawsuit after Bell's parent company Textron sent demanded that it stop using its helicopters without permission. How do you respond to a Cease and Desist order? With a full-blown lawsuit apparently.

Trexton and Bell say that its aircraft is private trademark property, but EA argues that its video games "are protected by the First Amendment as a form of free speech," reports Stars and Stripes.

Due to legal precedents in this area, it's said that EA may well win in its lawsuit. But you never know. We'll be watching this one with great interest.