01/04, 3:15pm
Gibson Guitar, Onkyo team up for audio gear
Gibson Guitar on Wednesday partnered with consumer audio maker Onkyo to build high-end home theater systems and other audio equipment. Gibson has recently formed a Pro Audio Division and will draw on the resources of Onkyo, while Gibson will share its marketing resources and other expertise. The dea will see Gibson get a controlling stake in Onkyo USA and thus become its second-largest shareholder, while Onkyo will also invest in Gibson.
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03/03, 8:50pm
Court rejects Gibson suit
A California court has dismissed Gibson Guitar's lawsuit against Activision over the input devices used in the Guitar Hero game. The gaming company was sued for violating the "'405 Patent" which covers a system for generating and controlling a simulated musical concert experience, although the claims are geared for using real guitars as input for applications such as in-store demos. The court's strongly worded filing claims that Gibson's arguments "border on the frivolous."
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03/12, 4:45pm
Gibson vs. Guitar Hero
Activision's popular Guitar Hero rhythm games are breaking the law, charges legendary guitar maker Gibson. The company has publicly accused Activision of infringing on a patent from 1999, which involves technology simulating a musical performance; in Guitar Hero, one or two players strum along on a simplified guitar, in time to on-screen notes. Reuters notes that Activision denies any wrongdoing, and is in fact asking the US District Court for Central California to render Gibson's patent invalid.
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