Konami Sues Harmonix/MTV over Alleged Patent Violations, Attempts to Block the Sale of Rock Band
Konami claims that the company's patent for a "musical-rhythm matching game," filed in the United States circa 1999, predates and supersedes Harmonix's 2007 patent filing for a "game controller simulating a musical instrument."
According to Bloomberg, Konami seeks cash compensation and an order to block the use of Harmonix's inventions. Viacom is waiting to receive the complaint before responding to the allegations.
Konami released the Japanese rhythm arcade games DrumMania and Guitar Freaks in 1999, with Guitar Freaks being initially ported to the United States later that year. The company is now planning to release its own Rock Band-style game titled Rock Revolution.
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dedgecko
replyFuck patent-sitters. Challenge it within a month, or at least notify the press/courts/whomever within a month or GTFO.
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I don't have the same hate for this case. I mean here we have a company who has actually used this patent for many years.
It bugs me more when it's a patent that people seem to file not to use, but only to later sue. -
Konami has not just been sitting
they've released drum and guitar games in the arcades for years. They just had one come out last month too
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_GuitarFreaks_%26_DrumMania_games
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