Activision Sues Over Blockbuster Game

Los Angeles -- Activision Inc. of Santa Monica, Calif., filed suit against Gibson Guitar Corp. of Nashville to settle a dispute over the blockbuster game "Guitar Hero."

The game, which has sold more than 16 million copies worldwide and generated $1 billion in sales revenue, was once endorsed by Gibson, which gave Activision permission -- for a royalty -- to model the game after Gibson guitars.

In the game, players manipulate switches on a model guitar, trying to keep up with animated screens on which bands blast out some of rock 'n' roll's most notorious guitar songs.

Gibson has claimed the game infringes on a patent it has owned since 1999.

Activision's lawyers, who filed the suit, said Gibson is trying to cash in on a game they endorsed without anticipating the level of its success, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The suit says Gibson "encouraged Activision to manufacture and sell devices it now alleges infringe the ... patent," the newspaper reported.

The game Gibson patented included a guitar and a simulated music concert, the report said.

"Gibson clearly believes the patent could be worth a lot more than the royalties the company is already receiving," said Colin Sebastian, an industry analyst.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.