Yesterday, Konami issued some papers and officially sued Harmonix for patent violations. The claim is that Rock Band’s instruments and visual feedback interface hit a little too close to patents created by Konami back in 2002 and 2003. Unfortunately for Konami, suing won’t make the images of Drummania go away.
According to Bloomberg:
Konami is demanding cash compensation, plus an order that would block Viacom and Harmonix from using the inventions, according to the complaint, filed yesterday in federal court in Marshall, Texas. The suit names Harmonix Music Systems, Viacom, and Viacom's MTV Networks Co., which owns Harmonix.
This shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. Konami has always had a stick up their collective bums about the success of both
Guitar Hero and
Rock Band. Konami can probably be considered the grandfather of the music genre with games like
Dance Dance Revolution,
Beatmania, and
Guitar Freaks, but it’s their own shocking inability to adequtely localize these games that may have led it all to this point. When asked for comment, Viacom didn’t even know they were being sued. Apparently Konami’s legal department is as slow to the punch as their own recognition that another guitar game has been pumping out sequels the last three years.
[Thanks, Professor Pew!]
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Contest:
7:22 PM on 07.10.2008
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Whatever excuse they may have, it looks to me like they're trying to cash in on anything they can because their own series has been dying. They did this with ITG, which I do think was basically a rip off of their own DDR, it was still unfair of them to get rid of the competition because they refuse to innovate, and like stated already, refusing to localize their other series. That's probably their business plan, wait and sue anything that is similar in any way to their own games.
Also yeah, I hope they don't get any money from this. I understand they're bitter because someone else ran with their idea and improved upon it, but it's Konami's fault in the first place for not taking a chance and localizing their games.
I love Konami and Benami games. But i've waited years on out to play Guitar Freaks, Drummania, and an actual good Beatmania. none of those 3 have been done yet thanks to no arcade getting any and for the fact Konami's too busy pumpin out crappy american songs on DDR.
"Hey, Konami, tell me how my ass taste!"
If both series weren't successful and expanding out of Konami's control, they wouldn't have cared.
They've literally put Konami in a position where NO ONE outside of a niche would care if their games were finally localized, because there are two franchises doing what they've done, and (arguably) better.
Is it their fault? Yes and no. Because personally, I think outside of the music, the games aren't incredibly interesting to look at. This is really where the competition's games succeed that Konami's do not. Transforming the experience from challenging but otherwise dull note striking to a rock star fantasy is where GH and RB have taken the throne, and literally demolished it.
When Beatmania finally came out here, they dropped the ball massively with a mediocre soundtrack, and an interface behind what they currently were up to in Japan. Not to mention that I was too busy playing DJ Max to care, what with it's better aesthetics and great, catchy music.
But I digress...Konami dug themselves into this hole, now they're trying to climb out of it with a pointless lawsuit in an atttempt to reclaim the genre they created. It isn't happening, and this won't gain them any cool points from anyone.
Konami seem to hate any competition when it comes to their Bemani games. Konami sued when In The Groove came out, and this is history repeating. Anytime someone takes an idea they came up with, then changes it up and improves it, what does Konami due?
Cue lawsuit time.
Konami has missed so many opportunities here with their Bemani games. I used to LOVE Bemani, but nothing ever came over. When Guitar Hero was created, it was a blessing. Guitar freaks with more buttons and american rock? Sweet. It's sad to see that it has taken Konami THIS LONG to bring over their "Rock Revolution." This lawsuit just shows how pathetic they have become.
Everyone's played Guitar Hero by now, right? Well, in the opening screens of the game you should notice a HUGE GIGANTIC LIST of patents that the game incorporates. If you do your homework then you'll find out that most of those patents are owned by Konami and Activision had to license in order to use.
Harmonix, however, did not license the patents and use them with legal consent like Activision did, but instead just went and incorporated the same technology that Konami's patents use in to their games.
Konami does have a legitimate claim despite the fact that we, as gamers, may see it as "bitching" or "jealousy".
If they do collect on this, then what? I don't understand exactly how this works, but would Harmonix essentially give up the ghost on Rock Band so they wouldn't have to pay up even more for future "infringements"? Someone please clarify for me, because I think Konami needs a few head shots.
Idiots. Konami obviously has nothing better to do at the moment.
Japan? How does that help me?
Konami pulled this shit when In the Groove came out, and it was just as sickening then. They seem to operate on the belief that they have sole domain over the music genre, and any competitors are to be crushed underfoot.
Fuck them.