Gibson in another head-up-bum shocker!
Gibson USA, now that it has been a while since the PRS scandal, has decided to start up another lawsuit to justify the expenses incurred by their legal department. This time they plan to take on the company that has probably done the most to promote their product subversively for the past few years, Activision.
Gibson’s stance on the matter:
Based on our preliminary analysis, the ‘Guitar Hero’ software (including any expansion packs) and the guitar controller provided by Activision being used as a musical instrument (packaged with the software or sold standalone) are covered by the … patent….Gibson requests that Activision obtain a license under Gibson’s … patent or halt sales of any version of the ‘Guitar Hero’ game software.
Activision licenced the rights to the Gibson guitar catalogue for the Guitar Heror III release. Here is the list of Gibson guitars in that version of the game:
Gibson:
* ES-355
* Explorer
* Firebird
* SG
* Les Paul
* V-Factor
* Super CES400
* Marauder
* Corvus
Epiphone:
* Casino
* Coronet
* Sheraton
Kramer:
* 650
* Vanguard
Bass Guitars:
* Marauder
* Corvus
* Les Paul
* LP Double Cutaway
* EDS 1275
* ES335
* Firebird
* Flying V
* Moderne
* SG
* X-Plorer
They also licensed the rights to produce an official Les Paul controller. To me it sounds like Gibson wanting a bigger slice of the pie. And who was the “face of GH3? Slash, a Gibson endorser. And what is the next title in the series : GH:Aerosmith featuring one Joe Perry who funnily enough plays…. you guessed it, Gibson.
Seriously you guys at Gibson, once again you are making yourselves look bad. If a bunch of kids get inspired to play guitar from this game, what sort of guitars do you think they will gravitate to? Doesn;t it make sense they would pick their favourite guitar from the game? Stick to worrying about your product and not stupid lawsuits.
Is it just me or is Gibson suffer from severe stupidity a lot of the time?
PowerBook Producer said
am March 18 2008 @ 11:47 pm
Does seem a bit crazy. It’s not like the guitar controller will take away sales of Gibson guitars costing thousands of dollars!
Still what I find even crazier is why anyone would bother going to all the trouble to become “proficient” at playing virtual guitar in a computer game,when it is just as much fun to learn the real thing and also gives you a chance to be a guitar hero for real with real fans and admirers.
Maybe I am missing the point of “Guitar Hero”.
Wookie said
am March 25 2008 @ 11:36 am
I am a Guitar Hero fan in a big way. I’m in the middle of writing a piece on why guitarists should play the game. It may help you see the MANY benefits of this game for guitarists.