Gibson, Activision Battle Heightens

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Gibson Guitar Corp. has demanded that six of the nation’s largest retailers pull copies of Activision Inc.’ popular game “Guitar Hero” from shelves as part of a widening patent fight.


The Nashville-based musical instrument maker filed a lawsuit this week against Target, Amazon.com; GameStop, Toy-R-Us and the world’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart, accusing them of contributing to acts of willful patent infringement by selling the games. Gibson is seeking unspecified damages from the retailers.


Agoura Hills-based Activision issued a statement Thursday saying the lawsuit is trying “to wrongfully interfere with Activision’s relationship with its customers and its consumers” saying retailers that sell the game “have done nothing wrong.”


Activision and Gibson have been partners for more than three years in the video game, which uses a guitar that bears a semblance to the famous Gibson Stratocaster guitar. Activision said in court papers that Gibson waited to make the allegations only after Activision made it clear that it was not interested in renewing its marketing and support agreement for the games with Gibson.

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