Gibson Guitar sues over Guitar Hero and Rock Band
- Posted March 22nd, 2008 at 17:09 EDT by Eric Blattberg
- 5,126 views
- 29 Comments
In a surprising move, Gibson Guitar has sued MTV Networks (parent company of Harmonix) and EA over the Guitar Hero and Rock Band titles. Gibson is claiming that both series infringe on one of its many patents and that the company was forced to sue when the companies showed their lack of intent to enter into negotiations for a patent license agreement.
Harmonix believes the entire situation is ridiculous. Their official statement is as follows:
"This lawsuit is completely without merit and we intend to defend it vigorously. Gibson's patent, filed nearly 10 years ago, required a 3D display, a real musical instrument and a recording of a concert. Rock Band and Guitar Hero are completely different: among other things they are games, require no headset and use a controller only shaped like a real instrument. It is unfortunate that Gibson unfairly desires to share in the tremendous success enjoyed by the developers of Rock Band and Guitar Hero."
Put in that context, we can't imagine how Gibson believes that the patent is applicable to Harmonix's music titles. Regardless, we'll keep you updated on the situation.
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Die-romantic |
Demon_King- 5:18pm GMT - March 22nd, 2008
- 4
To sue someone these days is pathetic maybe if your blooudy guitars weren't expensive then you'll get more money
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D3v1lwqer23 |
Farseye- 5:48pm GMT - March 22nd, 2008
- 6
I hardly believe that Gibson needs the money, some of the biggest guitarists out there use them and pay thousands, if not hundreds of thousands for custom built guitars, they are not hurting for money. On top of that, those guitarists usually have 10-20, maybe more of custom designs. If I were Gibson, I think I would have to lay down arms to the video game industry.
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irg7620
- 7:07pm GMT - March 22nd, 2008
- 9
i thought you had to get a license agreement anyway when it came to using something of someone else's? i mean, the guitars in both are modeled after real instruments with the actual names on the headstocks. wouldn't you have to work with the manufacturer to use that design? they use the real names of the companies so wouldn't they have to give money to the companies anyway?
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Alpha2
- 12:05am GMT - March 23rd, 2008
- 16
Didn't gibson license their guitar designs for Guitar hero?
10 years ago they created an idea that on paper sounds similar to GH and RB but apparently dont even factor in a game console. Harmonix's games owe more to other types of music games than an interactive concept that gibson would never actually put into production... as a matter of fact when did Guitar Freaks come out in the arcade because if anything I'd expect Konami to sue them first!
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IRONMAIDEN
- 12:24am GMT - March 23rd, 2008
- 17
gibson is jealous of the most overrated stupid game of our generation
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Odium_Generis_Humani
- 12:55am GMT - March 23rd, 2008
- 18
Ahh, what it means to do business in America...
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Philaroni |
Philaroni- 1:44am GMT - March 23rd, 2008
- 19
Gibson would not go out on the attack if they dident think they had somthing or at least a chance. Now I know there just after the $$ but still if they take it to the courts then all bets are off, anyone can come out on top when millions are up for grabs.
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FantasyStar |
Tirin- 3:30am GMT - March 23rd, 2008
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@Lp47PS3
Because it's not the guitar Gibson is sueing over, it's the entire concept of Guitar Hero and Rock Band in general.
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Paranoimia |
Paranoimia- 11:35am GMT - March 23rd, 2008
- 25
It's an indicator of how large and successful the videogame industry has become, that everyone and his dog wants to get a share of it... even if only by landing someone with a totally laughable and unfounded lawsuit.
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InfernoReaper |
GrimDarkling- 12:10am GMT - March 24th, 2008
- 27
Here's an idea. Leave Harmonix alone because it's free advertising. Or Harmonix should just recall all Gibsons and replace them with something else. F*** em. If they can't get over themselves for some plastic, silicon, and free advertising, tell them to blow it out their ***.
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ProfSebastian
- 10:44am GMT - March 24th, 2008
- 28
The man build, the parasit reclaim his part.
(I played the translated version of Bioshock so i don't know if the sentence in the game is exactly)
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chubacca
- 7:38am GMT - March 25th, 2008
- 29
@InfernoReaper - Free Advertising? WTF? Gibson didnt want or ask for free advertising. What your suggesting is like me advertising your a.ss on a toilet wall.
Gibson is "Gibson" - they have been successfull for 50 years so who the F.uk is Harmonix...a one hit wonder. Its a fun game idea once, twice, maybe 3rd remake...but a few years of remakes & clones from now.....yawns.... I'll bet my guitar that Gibson is around a lot longer than Harmonix is. NEXT!
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