The Energon Pub

Following Activision's filing of a pre-emptive lawsuit last week – asking a judge to dismiss guitar-maker Gibson's Guitar Hero patent claim and later saying it had "no merit" – and then Gibson's lawsuit against major retailers selling the game, Gibson has now filed a patent infringement lawsuit against ... well, not Activision. No, Gibson has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against former Guitar Hero developer Harmonix; Harmonix's parent company's parent company, Viacom; and Rock Band publisher and all around Guitar Hero-less innocent bystander Electronic Arts.

Gibson is claiming the aforementioned companies violate their 1999 patent covering "a system for electronically simulating participation by a user in a pre-recorded musical performance." For their money – even though they're not the ones being sued – Activision claims that "by waiting three years to raise its claim, Gibson had granted an implied license for any technology." Regardless of the outcome or the number of Gibson-branded plastic guitars out there, we suspect it won't be getting a fruit basket from the video game industry this holiday.

Sherade wrote:Honestly, I'm glad.
Guitar hero has mocked the guitarist hobby.
Except for a few, who it inspires, here's the situation.
People are all giddy "I beat a song on expert!"
I hand them my Stratocaster.
"Play it then."
You know what, most of them can't. I have one friend I've asked who could, not wonderfully, but he did. (Bulls on Parade)
I mean, some are real guitarists who know what they're doing, or play the game and become such in time, but not many I know of.
Unless proven otherwise, I'm sticking to it.
The above reason is also why I don't play, coupled with horrible coordination. I know I'm better with the rela thing.

Anyhoo, on the matter at hand, oh well.
Although EA seems to be somewhat a waste, I'm sure whatever happens, it'll end up some kind of compromise anyway.

Shadowman wrote: We know it's not real.

because it only shows that you don't understand any of it.