Guitar Hero franchise-holder Activision has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles seeking to establish that its popular game doesn’t infringe on a 1999 patent held by Gibson Musical Instruments, the maker of classic electric guitar models like the Les Paul.
Gibson’s patent describes a system where a user would wear a 3D virtual reality headset and play along to a pre-recorded concert on a musical instrument. The system would "simulate participation in a concert" by letting a user play along with the recording and see events from on on-stage point of view. Gibson has apparently applying pressure on Activision, claiming the company needs to execute a license to Gibson’s patent if it wants to keep selling entries in its Guitar Hero franchise.
