2nd UPDATE:Gibson Sues Viacom,Electronic Arts Over Rock Band
Friday March 21st, 2008 / 23h49
(Updates to add comment from Harmonix Music Systems.) DOW JONES NEWSWIRES After going after one guitar-playing video game, Gibson Guitar Corp. has filed a federal patent-infringement lawsuit against another by suing the creator and publisher of "Rock Band." Gibson sued Viacom Inc. (VIA) units Harmonix Music Systems and MTV Networks, and Electronic Arts Inc. (ERTS) in Tennessee days after suing six retailers - including Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) - that sell the blockbuster Activision Inc. (ATVI) game "Guitar Hero." Harmonix developed "Guitar Hero" but broke away from the brand after the game's publisher and rights owner was acquired by Activision. Viacom's MTV then bought Harmonix, seeing in the deal a way to blend its legacy in the music industry with video games, a form of entertainment also enjoyed by its young viewers. Earlier this month, Activision filed a federal lawsuit asking that a Gibson patent be declared invalid and that the court rule that "Guitar Hero" isn't infringing on any patent. Gibson alleges "Guitar Hero" too closely matches a musical virtual-reality patent from 1999. Activision filed its federal suit after Gibson allegedly notified Activision that it believed the "Guitar Hero" software and its guitar-shaped controller were covered by Gibson's patent. Gibson asked that Activision obtain a license from the instrument maker under the patent or stop sales of the game, according to the lawsuit. Activision contends it already licenses Gibson's trademark rights in association with the controller. In January, Activision said its "Guitar Hero" franchise surpassed $1 billion in North American sales in 26 months. "This lawsuit is completely without merit and we intend to defend it vigorously. Gibson's patent, filed nearly 10 years ago, required a 3D display, a real musical instrument and a recording of a concert," said a Harmonix spokeswoman in an e-mailed statment. "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." Representatives from MTV and Electronic Arts weren't available for comment. -By Kevin Kingsbury; Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-2136; kevin.kingsbury@dowjones.com
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