How far are the video game patent laws going to go?
As mentioned in a previous article, video games are coming under heavy fire from patent holders, who announced that they own the writes to gameplay mechanics or hardware. The most recent victim? Guitar Hero.
In 1999, Gibson filed a patent to protect a "System and method for generating and controlling a simulated musical concert", which by definition is what Guitar Hero is, kind of. Looking deeper into the patent, you'll see that the actual technical device it looks to control is a head-mounted 3d display, in a addition to a virtual musical instrument. But as we all know, it's not necessarily the device that it is protected... it's the method of technology that is outlined in the list of points made in the patent filing.
So Guitar Hero is under fire from Gibson, a popular guitar and instrument company. They already tried to break down Activision, who in turn is trying to kill off the patent in a US court. But now Gibson is becoming SERIOUS BUSINESS, launching lawsuits on big box retailers who are selling Guitar Hero products: Wal-Mart, Gamestop, K-mart, and Amazon to name a few. Why? They are selling products that infringe on copyright.
But wait, wasn't Guitar Hero made over three years ago? This begs to ask why Gibson wasn't making the claim then. It's no secret that Guitar Hero exists in the world, especially since it has made over a billion USD since launch. But maybe that was why Gibson waited... if they win this patent lawsuit, Gibson is entitled to a huge load of cash for each sale that is made on the Guitar Hero game franchise.
So who's next? Are rhythm games with any sort of simulated music/gameplay experience up for lawsuit? Poor Coolio-Natio :(.
The patent for Gibson is 9 years old and who knows what they actually did with it themselves, but I feel the who ordeal is painfully unnecessary.
Read the Patent
Activision Calling Foul
Earlier Yahoo Article
Wiiporter
That looks unneccessarily complicated.