Metallica goes nuts, sues game companies

  • Posted August 15th, 2007 at 09:08 EDT by Eric Blattberg
  • 5,095 views
  • 46 Comments

Update: It appears the original report from dailygaming.net that set the gaming community aflame had no truth to it whatsoever. HMXSean, Harmonix's community leader of the official Rock Band forums commented: 

"In no way is this true. It is well written satire but it is very much satire."

This debunks any previously made claims that Metallica is indeed suing any of these gaming companies. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Original story: Metallica thinks its metal enough to sue companies left, right and center.

That's right, Metallica has sued Harmonix, Activision, and Red Octane for including one of their songs in the upcoming Rock Band and Guitar Hero III. Keep in mind, these companies paid licensing fees to incorporate the music into their respective games. However, Metallica's lawyers claim that they are actually infringing on copyright by using the "licensed music to player" (LM2P) system.

Harmonix has yet to issue a response to Metallica's claims, though Activision and Red Octane have been quite blatant with theirs:

"Our company paid a licensing fee to feature the track 'One' by Metallica in Guitar Hero III. We don't understand why Metallica would turn around and sue us, unless they've gone from insane to completely bats*** insane since 2001, but we're confident that the law and our contracts will be enough to have this thrown out."

Metallica's reason for beginning this campaign is quite simple - album sales. They feel that by releasing one song in a more than $60 videogame that people will have less reason to buy their albums. The lawyer concluded, "The band learned its lesson the hard way with file sharing in the late 90s. This time they want to do a preemptive strike before the music gets out there".

We'll let you know how this debacle resolves.

Source: Daily Gaming

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Comments

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What are your thoughts?

  1. amdprophet | amdprophet

    • 9:11am BST - August 15th, 2007

    Wow, Metallica has just become more and more disappointing.

  2. jdubbs

    • 9:24am BST - August 15th, 2007

    Yeah, pretty much.  "I think I'll buy this $60 game which has one song, instead of the album...."  Yeah I really see people thinking/doing that.  I'd look at this more of a way to increase album sales myself. 

  3. Daver | Berae

    • 9:26am BST - August 15th, 2007

    @amdprophet

    i couldnt have say better

  4. GreenLantern420 | GreenLantern420

    • 9:36am BST - August 15th, 2007

    that song is old as sh*t . if you dont have the album by now chances are you arent getting it

  5. lovelyguy | 15975997

    • 9:36am BST - August 15th, 2007

    thats nuts

     

  6. dannyjt | dannyjt

    • 10:03am BST - August 15th, 2007

    Wouldn't this be better for the band? If someone plays the games and hears the band for the first time and likes them, then they will go out and buy there albums. For example,playing Guitar hero 2 was when I first heard Primus, and I liked them so much I went and bought 8 of there albums.

  7. SolsticeZero | SolsticeZero

    • 10:04am BST - August 15th, 2007

    I lost respect for metallica many a year ago. I hope they all die in a fire.

  8. sipnosis | sipnosis

    • 10:06am BST - August 15th, 2007

    Metallica is  becoming worst that Gene Simmons. This is one of the reason I stopped listening to their music. ..... GNR RULES hehehe..

  9. jimmy303

    • 10:29am BST - August 15th, 2007

    haha is it a joke ?! they must be using alot of dope

  10. JD-82 | JD-82

    • 10:30am BST - August 15th, 2007

    After the whole "Napster" incident Metallica seemed to think they ruled the world...then St. Anger bombed...you would think that they had learned their lesson wouldn't ya...

  11. RagingStorm | RagingStormX

    • 10:31am BST - August 15th, 2007

    I agree with Grean Lantern, who doesn't have "...And justice for all" by now isn't getting it...period. And if anything, younger poeple who hear the song might just be compelled to want to find the whole album and other songs from them.....this can only help them in the long run if they actually look at it. Anyways "One" is a sweet song and I will be looking forward to rocking out with Johnny Napalm to it =)...GH3 FTW!!

  12. Leper_Messiah

    • 10:35am BST - August 15th, 2007

    Actually, if one was to read the original article, and the various developers forums, this has already been debunked as a joke. Good job guys.

  13. Playing Beyond Today | Cottonmouth1

    • 10:58am BST - August 15th, 2007

    Sue em' like a rockstar,

  14. Shacks | Shacks

    • 11:57am BST - August 15th, 2007

    Metallica are a bunch of cry babies. They are not rich enough eyt? They actually have to cry saying that one song that was popular back in the day will stop fans from buying their album? What will make fans stop buying their albums is stuff like this.

  15. DeadOnArrival06 | DeadOnArrival06

    • 12:15pm BST - August 15th, 2007

    HAHA! Went from insane to totally BatSh!t crazy. Ha! Good stuff

  16. ypaotroicn

    • 12:20pm BST - August 15th, 2007

    "that song is old as sh*t . if you dont have the album by now... you arent getting it"  hahahaha GreenLantern, that's pretty funny.

  17. Syugo | Syugo

    • 12:26pm BST - August 15th, 2007

    This was  confirmed fake a while ago.

    http://www.rockband.com/vbforum/showpost.php?p=38469&postcount=12

  18. Morpheus | Syugo

    • 12:35pm BST - August 15th, 2007

    Mettalica are Nuts.  If anything this is free publicity that most struggling bands would die for.  It's quite plausible that this game might inspire more gamers to buy Mettalica music after hearing the song.  Why can't they just let their music do the talking and not get entangled in the corporate world.  Sadly this will have the effect of putting off more new Metallica fans and in the long run hurt them more financially - to which I say good.  *please don't sue me James, Lars and Kirk.

  19. gingo | gingo

    • 12:57pm BST - August 15th, 2007

    psn id: gingo....all i can say is lol because if they have licensed a song out then are sueing them for using it they are going to be thrown out of court so fast

  20. 6toes

    • 1:35pm BST - August 15th, 2007

    Alright, so this is fake right?  I was about to flip for a second...You're getting off easy this time Metallica, you're lucky you used to rock so hard or nobody would've put up with you this long...

  21. Phantasmn | PHANTASMN707

    • 1:37pm BST - August 15th, 2007

    Pre emptive strike my foot. Even if their track wasn't on Rock Band or GHIII, those games would still sell like hot cakes. And besides, most people won't know what songs are on there before they buy the games anyway.... paranoid much?

  22. Muzikguy | Muzikguy

    • 2:01pm BST - August 15th, 2007

    crazy. I like Metallica but DAMN. You seriously think one song off an album from 25 years ago is going to stop people from buying future records? Give me a break.

  23. Gen.Penguin

    • 2:17pm BST - August 15th, 2007

    forget metallica. they are so uptight.

  24. cb_32 | cb_32

    • 2:20pm BST - August 15th, 2007

    Why is my favourite band so retarded all of the sudden?

  25. Gen.Penguin

    • 2:26pm BST - August 15th, 2007

    dude they've been retarded before. remember the whole napster thing?

  26. wiggsj

    • 2:38pm BST - August 15th, 2007

    Its all LARS!!Hes the Jack@rss.  Whaa Whaa Whaa - his mommy didnt love him enough or something!  Such crybabies!!!!!!!!!

  27. Eric2929 | Eric2929

    • 2:59pm BST - August 15th, 2007

    @Syugo - already noted and an update is forthcoming

  28. IRONMAIDEN

    • 3:38pm BST - August 15th, 2007

    Wow, Metallica after it again. LIKE THEY NEED THE MONEY. well, maybe they do cause they havent recorded any decent sh*t since 1987

  29. DINAMO788 | DINAMO788

    • 3:47pm BST - August 15th, 2007

    Eric i like your commentary nice article

  30. lforet | RaineKos

    • 4:42pm BST - August 15th, 2007

    Gee you want more album sales... RELEASE A NEW ALBIM AND PEOPLE WILL BUY IT. Its been like 7 years since they released an album. People already bought them. Well... Even if they released a new album, it's not like anyone would by it now. Good job screwing yourself Metalica, I thought you were cool.

  31. Blue Pharoh

    • 4:42pm BST - August 15th, 2007

    Before you start slandering someone at least get the facts straight.  There is no such lawsuit, just another attempt at smearing Metallica's name because some cry babies can't get their music for free anymore.  Don't disrespect a Legendary band because you are too young to know what they are about.   @ERIC2929 maybe you should check your sources before posting false articles.   

     http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/08/15/metallica-deny-lawsuit-rumor-ugk-top-billboard-chart-radiohead-push-new-lp-to-2008/

  32. blachaze | blachaze213

    • 5:35pm BST - August 15th, 2007

    hu cares

  33. Eric2929 | Eric2929

    • 5:43pm BST - August 15th, 2007

    I'm not an editor, but none have been available for the past couple hours so I updated the article myself. I apologize for any inconvenience I may have caused.

  34. Draco | ExPresident

    • 6:01pm BST - August 15th, 2007

    This was a pretty sanderous post. Something so serious should probably really be checked out in detail before its posted. Problem with the internet is people see a quick post or hotline on some random news site and trying to be the first on their site to post it they go on with it, not taking the time to make sure its true.

    Metallica is a great band and the majority of pissed off people are just mad cause they can't get their tunes free anymore. Carefull what you post on the news, stuff like this could hurt you.

     

     

  35. Dogswithguns | Dogswithguns

    • 8:12pm BST - August 15th, 2007

    Metallica was one of my faves. now they'll be NONE of my faves. I sighned up for Napster a year ago and I couldnt find a single song of them to download, and I paid for the monthly fee too, cuz they never wanted to have their songs on Napster even after the lawsuit?!......now they dont even want one of their songs in a game? that's nutz!..... Mentaltallica, who the ***** they think they are?! Retardlica.

  36. Draco | ExPresident

    • 8:39pm BST - August 15th, 2007

    DogwithGuns try reading the update - no lawsuit.

  37. Dogswithguns | Dogswithguns

    • 9:23pm BST - August 15th, 2007

    Draco, thanks...... I thought they had a battle in court a while back. sorry.

    anyway. Metallica-sucka. LOL

  38. Syugo | Syugo

    • 1:00am BST - August 16th, 2007

    Thanks for the update, eric. Love keeping that psu nice and fresh!

  39. cashville

    • 3:25am BST - August 16th, 2007

    see this why i wont buy this games , all rock bands , why cant some game company release hiphop type of game give us the mic and lets go online and free style make your own beat and drag to  the community online , can be very nice . anyways , not a rcok fan .... im hiphop fan  . " i party harder then rockstar have you girls layed like porn star "  <-- im lyricall

     

  40. sipnosis | sipnosis

    • 8:44am BST - August 16th, 2007

    It's funny Metallica was against "THE MAN" now Metallica has become "THE MAN'S B*TCH"

  41. tillz | tillz

    • 10:09am BST - August 16th, 2007

    i dont like matalica s music but i know alot of people do ive just hade enough of sueing

  42. keyransolo | KeyranSolo

    • 11:25am BST - August 16th, 2007

    Metallica are one of the most richest rock bands ever, they don't need to sue, there swimming in money.

  43. Muzikguy | Muzikguy

    • 4:28pm BST - August 16th, 2007

    All right I retract my statement since it's a bogus article. Still though, And Justice for All came out in what? 1987 or so? This song is probably going to be the last one just like Free Ride in GHII.

  44. Deldwen | Deldwen1

    • 4:55pm BST - August 16th, 2007

    wow they need seriuse mental help

  45. nosaJ | nosaJ

    • 6:30pm BST - August 16th, 2007

    Metallica sucks HARD!!!It's kinda funny how when I was in Jr. High all those JockAss Buttpipes made fun of me for listening to them back in the day.Now they all listen to them Download all the songs I had 20 years ago, and get a crusty-old man on their heels.Guess I got the last laugh!!!!

  46. InfernoReaper | GrimDarkling

    • 9:27am BST - August 17th, 2007

    Metallica has become sad these past few years.  They might as well split up and try to make an album again in a few years for their reunion tour that will bomb as well. DIMMU BORGIR!!!!

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