Gibson Sues Guitar Hero Related Compnies, including Wal-Mart, Harmonix Music Sytems Inc., Viacom Inc, and Electronic Arts Inc

Gibson Guitar Corp. said it filed a patent infringement lawsuit in federal court against Harmonix Music Sytems Inc., Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks and Electronic Arts Inc. related to the "Guitar Hero" game.
The lawsuit, filed in Federal District Court in Tennessee, relates to the same patent involved in another suit Gibson filed earlier against various retailers, the Tennessee-based guitar maker said in a statement.
Earlier this week, Gibson sued Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and five other major retailers that sell the Activision Inc. game.

Earlier this month, Activision filed a lawsuit in federal court in Los Angeles, asking the court to declare a Gibson patent invalid and rule that " Guitar Hero" doesn't infringe on Gibson's patent.
Activision licensed the rights to model its video controllers on Gibson guitar models and to use their likenesses in the game.
Activision has said that by waiting three years to raise its claim, Gibson had granted an implied license for any technology.

Gibson alleges "Guitar Hero" too closely matches a musical virtual-reality patent from 1999.

tag: Patent, Game patents, Wal-Mart, Harmonix Music Sytems, Viacom, Electronic Arts