Gibson Guitars filed a lawsuit against Activision’s Guitar Hero game. It seems that Gibson owns a patent on technology simulating a live musical performance. They have insisted that Activision either license their patent, or cease selling any and all versions of the Guitar Hero game.
The funny thing about this lawsuit is that Gibson licensed the right to Activision to model their controller for the Guitar Hero after Gibson guitars. So Gibson knew about the game for the three years that it has been on the market, but did not file a patent lawsuit until Guitar Hero made over 1 billion dollars from sales of guitar Hero.
What is next? Is Gibson going to bring lawsuits against every eight year old kid who pretends that his mother’s broom is a guitar and that he is a start jamming with his favorite band? Sounds kind of silly, but I bet my great grandmother thought a broom was a new technology. Could this be considered a “technology” to simulate a live musical performance?
I find this to be unlikely since most eight year old children do not have enough money for Gibson to go after, but on the other hand maybe they will go after only the children who have wealthy parents. I we should urge our children to stick with air guitar, since open air is not patented, or considered a technology…….. Or is it?
Note to Gibson: We love your guitars. Can you please just concentrate on making a great guitar and leave everyone else alone. If you continue to build a great guitar, we will buy them. If I was Activision, I would call Fender and PRS and license the right to make my controllers in the image of their guitars. I am sure they would be more than happy with the money and the exposure they would receive.
News Article:
http://www.news.com/Gibson-Activisions-Guitar-Hero-violates-patent/2100-1043_3-6234177.html
Gary Allen
April 14, 2008 @ 10:29 am
Reminds me of a song…
“I greet you with a brother’s kiss
And crank the knife another twist”
Gibson has been receiving huge publicity because of these games, and I guarantee they’ve sold plenty of guitar starter packs because of it. Now they’re biting the hand that’s been feeding them, stabbing their friend in the back.
I completely agree with the last paragraph. Keep making guitars and focus on that. Tell your lawyers to focus on other matters because if they keep looking down the alleys for patent infringement then they’re going to end up like Microsoft, a company that almost everyone hates.