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Gibson claimed the video game infringed a patent issued in 1999 for using a musical instrument to take part in a simulated concert.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010

GIBSON SETTLES WITH VIACOM OVER ROCK BAND SUIT

Patent Infringement Case Will be Dismissed
Gibson Guitar Corp. settled its patent-infringement suit against Viacom, Electronic Arts and retailers over the “Rock Band” music-video game.

The companies told Magistrate Judge Juliet Griffin on June 4 “that they had reached a full settlement” and plan to seek dismissal of the case by June 14, according to the filing in federal court in Nashville, TN, where Gibson is based.

Gibson, the manufacturer of B.B. King’s “Lucille” and Jimmy Page’s “Les Paul” guitars, sued Viacom and its Harmonix Music Systems in 2008. Gibson claimed the video game infringed a patent issued in 1999 for using a musical instrument to take part in a simulated concert.

Viacom plans to release the next edition of “Rock Band” for the Christmas holiday season, though the franchise lost money last year amid declining industrywide sales. Electronic Arts distributes the game. Also cited in the complaint were retail companies Amazon, Target and Wal-Mart.

Gibson also had claimed the “Guitar Hero” games made by Activision Blizzard infringed its patent. Those two companies settled their dispute last year.

 
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