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You got served: Konami sues Viacom and Harmonix over Rock Band

Posted Jul 10, 2008 at 5:50PM EST by QJ Staff

Listed in: PS3, Xbox 360 Tags: Harmonix, Konami, Konami Digital, Texas, Viacom

We usually roll our eyes and say something along the lines of "not again" whenever we read about any lawsuits filed against major gaming companies over patents. However, this here may just get our attention: this time, Konami sued Harmonix and Viacom, claiming that the technology used for the Rock Band (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii)franchise violated their patents.

Rock Band is currently known for being a rhythm game that utilizes mock-ups of actual musical instruments: guitars, drums, and microphone. Konami, on the other hand, have already issued patents for similar controllers also modeled after musical instruments, and they were filed sometime in 2002 to 2003.

Konami Digital Entertainment has recently announced that the company is planning to come up with their own music/rhythm franchise known as Rock Revolution. The game is slated to be released sometime later this year.

Konami has already filed the complaint in Marshall, Texas, and demands for cash compensation along with an order that will stop Harmonix and Viacom from using their patents.

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saying you are annoyed at people who are complaining isn't something that's high on my list of concerns either. Just as the one reading my post doesn't really care about it either,

My point exactly? None, I guess, but the world is a very sad and lonely place if people feel the need to post messages like ours. :/

# bah! — keengsnake 2008-07-10 19:52

Why would you lose respect for Konami? It's not like they care or show you any. It's Viacom's and harmonix's fault for not coming up with their own ****! BTW it would be funny if in the future someone copies one of your greatest ideas and makes money out of it . (even though it's patent) .That way if you do something in RESPECT you won't get any from us!

# ? — NarooN 2008-07-10 20:21

Last time I checked, Harmonix was the first to make any fake drum/guitar instruments. What did Konami have prior to that? *****ing Dance Dance Revolution? Karaoke Revolution?

Pfft.

# ? — NarooN 2008-07-10 20:22

When did I proclaim that somehow, me losing respect for a company will have some impact on them? I merely stated my quick thoughts on the matter. I don't expect anyone to care, and you must care enough to actually have a reply like that.

# ?? — keengsnake 2008-07-10 20:52

When did I proclaim that somehow, me losing respect for a company will have some impact on them?

Where and when did I say you said that?!?!?!!?

# **** you! — keengsnake 2008-07-10 20:55

Let's just see who wins in court . Then we'll see who was Copying who. Right ?

# actually.... — redsun615 2008-07-10 21:18

konami already has a GuitarFreaks and Drummania which as been going on in the arcades ever since 1999

# oops sorry for double.... — redsun615 2008-07-10 21:21

forgot to mention that konami has made a "guitar" and "drum" controllers...which has been released for ps2 for quite a while now

# LOLWUT — NarooN 2008-07-10 22:07

Did I address you, specifically? No, I didn't. You didn't even have any comments on this article prior to any of my comments.

And idrc about the Konami suing Harmonix thing. Harmonix has way better music games than them imo and I had no clue about the controllers they had back then, so that was an epic fail on my part.

But you also fail for coming out of nowhere with that.

# patents and justice — Dudeman3k 2008-07-10 22:11

I imagine i'm not the only one who acknowledges that courts don't always choose the "correct" side, or the "rightful" side. Winning in court doesn't necessarily mean justice was seen. It only means lawyers were or were not able to do their jobs to succeed in their clients' favors.

Anyway, I was actually wondering what was going on with Konami when they never released a music game like Rock Band. I mean, with their arcade machines that they've had out (as a previous user mentioned), you'd think that someone earlier on would've expedited the process to create something sooner instead of just having the patents drawn up.

I just wish they would've done something about it sooner. Although they probably did. I just don't know how long it takes to sue someone, or a company. I imagine there's a lot of paperwork.

I wonder.... they have DDR... and Para Para Paradise.... then there's going to be Rock Revolution (maybe).... how about Dance Crew? or Dance Crew Revolution. You could have sensors attached to limbs, arrows for each sensor, and a sensor ring PP Paradise-esque. Heh, iono, just a thought. I forgot who it was who made a joke about making "Boy Band." Good times, I say.

# It took a while... — SaRoStar 2008-07-10 22:54

probably because building up a case is very hard. Second reason was probably they don't know how to market to the american public with guitar/drum games. They are successful with guitar freaks and drummania only cause its geared at the japanese. They are not as inform on what is popular in america as compared to japan.

3rd reason why is Rock Band is coming out in Japan now and I am sure Konami doesn't want them raiding on their territory.

Last Konami is only suing the makers of rockband and not guitar hero 3 becuase the new owners of guitar hero have already paid patents as shown on their disclaimer screen when the game starts up. Harmonix never paid any so of course Konami will take them to court.

# ha — keengsnake 2008-07-10 23:00

You failed in life and seeing reality . let's drop it

friends for ever. k?

# Konami No! — Dougie321 2008-07-11 00:07

Rock Revolution will not do you any good. Two is enough, theres practically nothing new you can bring to the rythem game that would intrest people to buy it.

# wow. — NarooN 2008-07-11 01:14

I fail at life and seeing reality.

When that makes sense and when you can actually respond with a mature and relevant statement, get back to me.

# indeed — mpcooper 2008-07-11 02:54

building up a patent infringment case would not take too long to do since its pretty straight forward but I think that the real reason Konami did this is like you said with Rockband being localised in Japan and with its succses here in America it would dominate over the drum and karoke games. I don't understand why all these patent suits are happening now this must be the 8th one this year for a video game company.

# F*** Viacom — dark420bishop 2008-07-11 05:19

They're shady bastards anyways.

# Lolz — StainlessSteve 2008-07-11 06:38

Bemani ftw. It's still kind of lame that Konami suing for this though. They don't even show any love for Acivision and their Guitar Hero games.

# The smell of victory — Donciclon 2008-07-11 08:01

viacom is gunna get so pwned. If konami has the paper work to prove that the ideas is theirs then IT"S THEIRS. and if it's been used without their permission (and not to mention highly profited) then they deserver, nay, have a right to their cut.

Justice will be served...with a side of fries and a milkshake =)

# I'm glad they did. — DNAgent 2008-07-11 08:20

Rock Band sucks. I can't wait until Konami's Rock Revolution though. I'm glad they sued them.

# Ugh. — Sinborn 2008-07-11 08:30

Yeah, bad idea in going to Japan, but at the same time, GH is a well-adjusted to American culture. Hopefully the lawsuit doesn't cause a fold.

# details — mpcooper 2008-07-11 08:45

I am kind of curious now what the patent actually is. I don't wan't to pass judgement on a company knowing absolutely nothing in a case. Besides I see Viacom just paying Konami an out of court settlement just to shut them up because Viacom can afford it once they get their money from google/youtube.

# konami rules ftw — Alcantara617 2008-07-11 14:06

i'm interested to see what konami will do for rock revolution, i expect it to be good, seeing the competition being GH4 and Rock Band 2 (If it comes out around when they do) they will need to do something new an fresh (like GH4's song creation or rock band's tons of DLC) so i'm jus waiting to see what they do

# eh... — solidus4prez 2008-07-11 14:36

As much as I LOVE bemani games, I can't imagine rock revolution having anything more than their in-house artists' stuff. wait, I like their stuff.

In any case, this lawsuit is sorta bull***** and kinda reminds me of their In The Groove suit...

# Oranges. — FABLE 2008-07-11 14:58

I like to eat oranges. They're delicious but sometimes they sting my fingers and it really hurts.

# It makes sense — keengsnake 2008-07-11 15:04

You just can't understand . Your inferior bird brain does not let you absorb knowledge and retain it ! You were wrong and that's what counts , so when you have something worth and TRUTHFULLY to say then I'll be waiting .

# Green eyed monster of Envy — Nineball 2008-07-12 10:55

In other words, Konami is jealous at the mainstream success of Rock Band and wonders why their bad instrument games with original songs no one wants to play that have a high learning curve never did half as well outside the arcades in Japan.

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You got served: Konami sues Viacom and Harmonix over Rock Band

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