Gibson drags companies behind Rock Band to court

After Gibson Guitars sued Guitar Hero’s publisher Activision and some major game retailers, alleging that the game infringes upon one of its patents (related to technology required for simulating a musical performance). It has realized that the other leading game in the music genre, Rock Band, is also in violation of its patent. Now Gibson Guitars is suing Rock Band’s developer Harmonix, its parent company MTV Networks and the game’s distributor, Electronic Arts.

It filed a suit against the three companies responsible for Rock Band on March 20, 2008, in the US District Court of Middle Tennessee. It also has issues with Harmonix’s role as the erstwhile developer of the Guitar Hero series. Gibson confirmed in a statement that the patent involved in both the lawsuits is the same. It has claimed that it had urged the defendants (Harmonix, MTV Networks and EA) “to enter into a patent license agreement with the defendants in this case” but as they failed to respond promptly it was forced to take legal action.

Harmonix shot back in an official statement and dismissed Gibson’s allegations. “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,” Harmonix questioned the merit and veracity of the lawsuit. Gibson’s legal offensive has certainly brought both Activision and MTV Games on the same page.

Read [Gamedaily] Also Read [Shack News]