Activision believes Gibson's patent has 'no merit'

15 Comments by Alexander Sliwinski Mar 20th 2008 4:43PM
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, Peripherals, Rhythm, Business

Activision has made a formal statement about its lawsuit against Gibson Guitar Corporation's patent claim on Guitar Hero. Activision calls Gibson's squeeze-play a "transparent end run ... on patent assertions that Gibson knows have no merit." According to Activision, Gibson waited three years until this past January to make its patent allegations and only did so after Activision said it was no longer interested in renewing its "marketing and support agreement with Gibson."

Poor Gibson, looks like it's just a little bitter about (Warning: double cliché alert) not seeing the light on its patent many moons ago and missing the boat on a billion dollar franchise. Meanwhile, Harmonix is still making money off the franchise it lost and is currently working out a deal with Activision over the $14.5 million the company says it's due in royalty fees.

Tags: activision, gh, gibson, guitar-hero, guitarhero, harmonix, lawsuit

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School): Mar 20th 2008; 4:46PM

LOL @ Gibson.

Fernando Rocker: Mar 20th 2008; 5:07PM

Hi =p

NoHitHair: Mar 20th 2008; 5:13PM

Hey.

ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force): Mar 21st 2008; 2:39AM

Hello everyone, my name is Fernando Rocker. It's my first time here in a NA meeting, and I just want to admit that

I am a Nintendo fanboy. XD

Shagittarius: Mar 20th 2008; 5:19PM

This is not frivolus, the guitar was far too hot, it could have given people 2nd degree burns.

Radar: Mar 20th 2008; 5:39PM

I'm kinda of hoping the lawsuit goes through just so it may save the guitar hero franchise from following other activison franchises cough tony hawk cough. I mean it already is heading down the road to garbage title with GH: aerosmith

JRM: Mar 20th 2008; 5:42PM

...or "Guitar Hero: Mario Mix"

Sora267: Mar 20th 2008; 6:02PM

JRM, I would honestly buy that game.

OTAM: Mar 20th 2008; 6:12PM

I think Activision needs to get knocked down a peg or 2.

copa: Mar 20th 2008; 6:15PM

With Fender working with Rock Band, it makes you wonder who Activision intends to license with for Guitar Heros 4-9.

Maybe they'll just say, "fuck it", and go whole hog with Axe Body Spray(TM) brand Guitars.

Shmil: Mar 20th 2008; 6:22PM

don't forget vault soda!

honkyjesusownsu: Mar 20th 2008; 6:52PM

I believe toy intrument games have no merit.

TimDaleYo: Mar 20th 2008; 6:55PM

Strange... I wouldn't expect something like this from a company like Gibson.

Billy Dee Williams: Mar 20th 2008; 8:09PM

So, is Milton Bradley around to sue Dance Dance Revolution AND Gibson AND Activision? Silly Simon borrowers..

hvnlysoldr: Apr 12th 2008; 4:45PM

Part of patents and copyrights is to maintain them by ceasing others from infringing. Too late to do so.

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