( CNN ) -- The creators of the `` Call of Duty '' video game franchise on Monday filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit by former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega , who says the 2012 video game `` Call of Duty : Black Ops II '' has damaged his reputation . Noriega , 80 , is serving a prison sentence in Panama after being convicted of drug trafficking , money laundering and killing political opponents . Creators of the video game called the lawsuit `` frivolous '' and filed the motion to dismiss it on the ground that Noriega 's portrayal in the game is protected by the First Amendment . `` What 's astonishing is that Manuel Noriega , a notorious dictator who is in prison for the heinous crimes he committed , is upset about being portrayed as a criminal and enemy of the state in the game Call of Duty . Quite simply , it 's absurd , '' said former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani , attorney for the video game creator , Activision Blizzard Inc. `` This is a notorious dictator who 's attacking the freedom of speech rights of an American company , '' Giuliani told CNN . Noriega , 80 , filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court in July . In it , he argues that his portrayal `` as a kidnapper , murderer and enemy of the state '' in the 2012 video game damaged his reputation . The company used his image and name in order to make money , the lawsuit says ; therefore , he 's entitled to a share of the profits . Manuel Noriega sues over 'Call of Duty ' video game . `` Plaintiff was portrayed as an antagonist as the culprit of numerous fictional heinous crimes , creating the false impression that defendants are authorized to use plaintiff 's image and likeness , '' the lawsuit says . The video game includes historical footage and several real-life characters in Cold War scenarios , including former Marine Lt. Col. Oliver North . But while North did his own voiceover for the game and acted as an adviser , Noriega said in the July lawsuit that he was n't consulted -- or compensated -- for the use of his likeness . `` Call of Duty '' video games take storylines from current headlines , and its characters are based on historical figures , from former Cuban leader Fidel Castro to David Petraeus , the retired general and former CIA director . Giuliani called Noriega 's lawsuit `` an assault on a whole art form -- historical fiction . '' `` If this were allowed , it would be like ( former al Qaeda leader Osama ) bin Laden 's family suing for 'Zero Dark Thirty , ' `` Giuliani said . `` Obviously that should n't be allowed . '' For almost two decades , Noriega was a major player in a country of critical regional importance to the United States because of its location on the Panama Canal , the key strategic and economic waterway between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans on the narrow isthmus linking the Americas . Amid growing unrest in Panama , then-U.S. President George H.W . Bush ordered the invasion of the Central American nation in December 1989 , saying Noriega 's rule posed a threat to U.S. lives and property . 12 more real people who appeared in video games . Noriega fled his offices and tried to seek sanctuary in the Vatican Embassy in Panama City . He surrendered in January 1990 and was escorted to the United States for civilian trial . Noriega was indicted in the United States on charges of racketeering , laundering drug money and drug trafficking . He was accused of having links to Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar 's notorious Medellin cartel and , in the process , amassing a multimillion-dollar fortune . He was convicted of drug trafficking and other crimes and served nearly two decades in prison . In 2010 , a French court sentenced Noriega to seven years in prison for laundering 2.3 million euros ( $ 2.9 million ) through banks there . He was ordered to pay the money back . In Panama , where he was convicted of killing political opponents , he has been hospitalized several times since he returned in 2011 to serve out his prison sentence . CNN 's Catherine E. Shoichet , Stella Chan and Rafael Romo contributed to this report .
' Blizzard has filed a motion to dismiss Manuel ##a 's lawsuit . Ex - New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is calling the ` ` Call of Duty '' video games creator . He calls the lawsuit ` ` absurd '' and a violation of free speech . Noriega claims the video games damaged his reputation and he 's entitled to part of the profits .