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Activision: Gibson's claims are 'disingenuous and lack any justification'

Posted Mar 20, 2008 at 8:22AM EST by QJ Staff

Listed in: Wii, PS3, Xbox 360, PC Gaming Tags: Activision, Gibson, patent
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Activision's Guitar Hero controller - Image 1Activision has recently received heavy flak from musical instrument manufacturer Gibson Guitar Corporation due to the patent violation lawsuit filed by the latter against the video game company.

If you've read our previous coverage on the issue, you'll know that the nature of the complaint was tied to Activision's supposed infringement of Gibson's patent for a guitar shaped controller used to play in time with notes on a TV screen. Sounds rather familiar doesn't it?

Activision was rather cool about the situation and gave its own statement regarding the matter:

GibsonÂ’s lawsuit is a transparent end run around an impartial court that Activision asked on March 11 to rule on patent assertions that Gibson knows have no merit. Our Guitar Hero retailing partners have done nothing wrong. We will confront this and any other efforts by Gibson to wrongfully interfere with Activision's relationship with its customers and its consumers.


A licensing agreement was filed prior to the lawsuit regarding the replication of Gibson's guitar designs for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Xbox 360, WiiPlayStation 3, PC, and PS2). However, Gibson retaliated by alleging that Activision violated one of its patents which governs "technology used to simulate a musical performance". Due to this, Activision filed its own lawsuit to counter Gibson's claims for damages.

Activision concluded its statement by saying that Gibson's claims are "disingenuous and lack any justification". It was also mentioned that Activision is no longer interested in pursuing any future marketing and support agreements with Gibson.

Buy: [Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Xbox 360), (Wii) ]
Buy: [Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (PS3), (PC) ]




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Comments 


 
# the best line is...Someone_PR 2008-03-20 09:46
"It was also mentioned that Activision is no longer interested in pursuing any future marketing and support agreements with Gibson."



That's what happen when you want money in the easy way...

Reply
 

 
# Just curiousBillie 2008-03-20 10:00
Why isn't Gibson suing Harmonix? Aren't they doing the same thing with Rock Band?

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# WTF!?!?!?!?!ISOHaven 2008-03-20 10:26
Rockband uses Fender.

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# I could be wrong....but...Billie 2008-03-20 11:04
"Gibson retaliated by alleging that Activision violated one of its patents which governs "technology used to simulate a musical performance"."



I don't think this has anything to do with the alikeness of the guitar.

Reply
 

 
# WTF!?!?!?!?!ISOHaven 2008-03-20 12:06
I read another news story a while ago about Gibson being butt hurt over the "likeness" of the guitar...I figured it was related...maybe not.

Reply
 

 
# Just a theoryRental_Ninja 2008-03-20 13:45
Maybe Harmonix obtained the rights. That would then explain why Gibson waited till now to sue the makers of guitar hero. before harmonix was in control of guitar. I think it was GH1 and GH2, but then they moved on to RB and activision took over GH. Just a theory.

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