Harmonix, MTV Networks (a division of Viacom) and Electronic Arts have all been named in the filing and will have to send the legion of corporate lawyers to the Federal District Court in Tennessee.
The company claims that the trio’s Guitar Hero infringes on a patent awarded to Gibson in 1999. The U.S. Patent number 5990405 reads the following:
“A musician can simulate participation in a concert by playing a musical instrument and wearing a head-mounted 3D display that includes stereo speakers. Audio and video portions of a musical concert are pre-recorded, along with a separate sound track corresponding to the musical instrument played by the musician.”
The lawsuit revolves around the same patent Gibson intends use to legally squeeze a lot of money from various retailers, which will also be defending their point in the same Tennessee court.