Harmonix and MTV taken to court over ‘musical-rhythm matching game’
Konami is seeking compensation over alleged patent infringement in the Rock Band video game, according to Bloomberg.
The Japanese publisher, which makes similar music-based titles involving guitars, microphones and dance mats, insists Rock Band infringes on its patents relating to musical instruments and a ‘musical-rhythm matching game’.
Konami is reportedly demanding cash compensation and an order to block the use of its inventions.
Speaking to Bloomberg, a Viacom spokesperson said the company had received the complaint but had no comment to make.
Rock Band was released in Europe on Xbox 360 in May, with PS2, PS3 and Wii versions due later in the year.
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Comments
Konami - Sour Grapes
Disapppointing. Just because they missed out on the guitar hero and rock band market. Sour grapes, I think.
Why didn't they do this when guitar hero was released many years ago!!!!!
Re: Konami - Sour Grapes
Best of luck to all concerned at Konami!
@Jon
Good point, seems like they've left it quite a while to bring this up. If they had've done it when it was first released then it would have been justified but waiting this long is just opportunistic.
What about Neversoft
Have Konami forgotten that Neversoft currently do the development for the Guitar Hero series?
@Bob
Yeah but Harmonix came up with the original concept when they developed and worked on Guitar Hero. (don't think they were called Harmonix until after they left to make RB though).
Re: @Bob
Or its possible Activision have paid Konami for the rights to use this in the guitar hero franchise?
Re: Re: @Bob
Trouble with this is that most games are a clone of others - Scramble and defender pretty much invented the sideways scroller shooter and neither konami nor williams sued anyone, Gyruss by Konami is a sprite version of Tempest with Galaxian influences - where would you start and end? Breakdance by epyx invented rhythm action, little is new, Konami simply failed to capitalize on Guitar Freaks prefering to concentrate on dancing, fair enough, tough bears to you.
Re: Sour Grapes
Spot on. Why wait so long to kick up a stink? To me, seems like quite a respectable company has seen a chance to make a quick buck. How the mighty have fallen. Simon Belmont would turn in his grave...
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