Konami takes Harmonix to court over Rock Band

by Dustin Burg { Jul 11th 2008 at 10:45AM }

When the video game music genre gets too tough to compete, Konami has a master plan. They say screw trying to develop something new and innovative or even attempting to copy their competitors. Why go through all that work when you can sue?

This past Wednesday in a Texas District Court, Konami filed a lawsuit against Harmonix, MTV Games and EA claiming that Rock Band infringes on three of their patents. Specifically, Konami claims that several of their patents from older titles like Guitar Freaks, Drummania, and Pop'n Music were ignored and therefore Rock Band is a franchise based on lies and deceit. What happend to the whole idea of music bringing people together?

Tags: ea, harmonix, konami, mtv-games, rock-band, rock-band-2

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Boff @ Jul 11th 2008 10:51AM

You know you've hit the bigtime if someone wants to take you to court.

Gemini Ace @ Jul 11th 2008 10:55AM

I like lies and deceit. Bring on Rock Band 2!

VPhoenix @ Jul 11th 2008 10:55AM

This doesn't sound frivolous to me. Many people here will Konami's line of music games for the arcade---there were clearly in this space first. I'm amazed they haven't gone after Harmonix sooner.

At any rate, I hope this can be resolved amicably (and without delaying Rock Band 2!).

VPhoenix @ Jul 11th 2008 10:56AM

Will remember, that is. Bah.

Kev (gamertag: ksiddique) @ Jul 11th 2008 2:07PM

Is this *the* VPhoenix?!

VPhoenix @ Jul 11th 2008 2:22PM

Indeed it is! Nice to run into you here. :)

Author X @ Jul 12th 2008 5:33PM

Yeah, they were here first, but being competition for the same market doesn't mean they infringed copyrights.

Ben @ Jul 11th 2008 11:06AM

If there are patent infringements on Guitar Freaks, why isn't Activision being sued as well?

Tyr1n @ Jul 11th 2008 11:10AM

I'm not sure i quite understand the legal system. a controller is a controller. if its shaped like a chainsaw, a guitar, a leg or a drum-set and has buttons it's still a controller. how can you have patents on a type of game? Neversoft better get on ea for making a skateboarding game lol (i kid).

another thought... why hasnt konami gone after neversoft for guitar hero? or the makers of in the groove?

Octantis @ Jul 11th 2008 11:28AM

In the article it states that on the GH3 website it displays the patent numbers Konami is suing over. So more than likely GH3 has paid Konami for use of its patents.

VPhoenix @ Jul 11th 2008 11:37AM

Maybe they did, and Neversoft already settled with them.

Alternatively, since Harmonix were the ones who actually created Guitar Hero, maybe Konami's hoping for a symbolic victory against them first before they start shaking everyone else down.

Shadowman @ Jul 11th 2008 1:11PM

They did, Why do you think there isn't a ITG3.
I seriously don't understand why there bringing Pop'n into this, when the hell do you have to hit 9 buttons during Rock Band?

Octantis @ Jul 11th 2008 11:25AM

A patent is only strong if you choose to defend it. Since Konami waited so long to go to court to sue Harmonix it could be argued that they chose not to defend their patent and thus could lose any right to it. Harmonix could also counter sue Konami for waiting until Konami had a competing product to Rock Band before bringing it to court to gum up RB2.

More than likely Harmonix has a patent that Konami is going to use and they will agree to drop the case and share the patents.