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Gibson Sues Over Guitar Hero

It wants retailers to stop selling game, claims patent infringement

By Laila Weir, Newser User

Posted Mar 21, 2008 1:00 PM CDT

(Newser) – Gibson Guitar has sued Guitar Hero retailers, saying the Activision video games infringe on a patent it holds for a virtual-reality concert. The federal suit seeks to stop Wal-Mart, Target, Kmart, Amazon, GameStop, and Toys "R" Us from selling the games, reports AP. But Activision is fighting back—earlier this month it sued to have Guitar Hero declared free of patent violation.

Gibson wants Activision to get a license under its 1999 patent, but the game maker isn’t interested. "We will confront this and any other efforts by Gibson to wrongfully interfere with Activision's relationship with its consumers," said a company rep. Guitar Hero has helped Activision’s sales soar, contributing to a 90% profit increase in the company's most recent quarter.

[Images (6)]

[Videos (2)]

Activision manager Daniyel Garcia demonstrates "Guitar Hero 3" videogame, during the E3 Media Business Summit at the Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Stefano Paltera, file)

A 1968 Gibson Flying V electric guitar used by late rock musician Marc Bolan is on display at Christie's auction house in London, Wednesday, March 28, 2007. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)

This photo released by Activision shows a screen grab the popular rock star simulator, "Guitar Hero." (AP Photo)

Aljon Go, a product specialist with the Gibson Guitar Corp., demonstrates on Gibson's Robot Guitar at the Consumer Electronics Show(CES) in Las Vegas, Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A customer leaves a Wal-Mart in Mountain View, Calif. in this Nov. 7, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, file)

Activision Inc. provided this photo of a Guitar Hero III video game set. (AP Photo/Activision Inc.)

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Gibson Sues Over Guitar Hero