Gibson Sues Walmart

[skorb]

Gibson probably didn't think that the game would take off like it did so they let activision use their LP brand for a small fee when in fact they see a much larger dollar figure could have been made, so now they want a larger piece of the pie!

yup, that's all it is, just plain greed

well, it is Gibson, so no one should be surprised.

[shreddermon]

Gibson has no claim here just as they had to legitimate claim with PRS. Its Gibson trying to make money without making a decent guitar. Im sure the guitar hero game is wayyyy different than the one Gibson came out with.

Gibson will lose.
The game has been out for years and they even licensed the LP brand and Gibson name to be used on the product.

Gibson's years of inaction will be their undoing.
There is a shit load of case law to back it up.

Gibson probably didn't think that the game would take off like it did so they let activision use their LP brand for a small fee when in fact they see a much larger dollar figure could have been made, so now they want a larger piece of the pie!

+1 to all of these.

[OnlineStageGear]

Gibson's Lawyers must have been bored....

[dg]

I think next they plan on going after Sunkist for using their trademark orange peel finish without paying royalties.

[lerxstcat]

It would be funny if Wal-Mart bought out Gibson in a hostile takeover just to fire the Gibson execs that signed off on this shit.

I would say that when Gibson agreed to let Guitar Hero make LP-shaped controllers with a Gibson logo on an open-book headstock, they de facto agreed that it was okay for Activision to do that, and by extension for Wal-mart to sell them.

[lerxstcat]

I think next they plan on going after Sunkist for using their trademark orange peel finish without paying royalties.

Wow! If they succeed against Sunkist, Earl Scheib will be out of business too!

[wreckingcrew]

I hope Gibson loses... then when they're broke some company will buy them and fire all the fucktards that work for them.

[VoiceX3]

As against the idea of Guitar Hero as I am....(worst thing to ever happen to music.... Teaches absolutely nothing) I think this lawsuit is crap. It took off and Gibson is jealous. Easy fix would be for Guitar Hero 4 to license with Jackson & Delores Rhoads and make a Rhoads controller and call it "Fallen Heroes Edition". It could include stuff from Randy, Dime, Hendrix, Becker, Schuldiner and other greats who have left us long before their time......

[mattsmusiccenter]

As against the idea of Guitar Hero as I am....(worst thing to ever happen to music.... Teaches absolutely nothing)

As a music store owner I'd have to disagree with you on this. We constantly have a flow of new students signing up for lessons due to Guitar Hero, not to mention all the beginner guitars we sell to these kids. In my opinion it's a good thing!

[wreckingcrew]

plus it also turns people onto music that they might not have ever heard before.

[cdwillis]

Gibson: FAIL.

[goodwood]

I hope Gibson actually wins...just because I hate WalMart. WalMart is eroding society.

[rjohnstone]

I hope Gibson actually wins...just because I hate WalMart. WalMart is eroding society.

What does Wal-Mart, or any other retailer that sells the game have to do with this?

They sell a product. They didn't make it.

Suing the retailer is pointless. You have to go after the product manufacturer.
Only after a court agrees to provide relief and issue an order to suspend manufacture and sales can Gibson sue them. And that's only if they don't comply with the court order.

Wal-Mart and other retailers have not violated any laws, so they are not open to civil or criminal action at this point.

While I don't care for Wal-Mart and their crappy products, they haven't done anything wrong with regards to this matter.

That's why this whole lawsuit will fail miserably. Gibson is putting the cart before the horse.

[jacksoncsplayer]

The whole thing is a tragedy. Once again greed has consumed a company or companies. How much is enough?

[markD]

in the USA, enough is NEVER enough!!!! there is always enough extra greed to TRY and go after even MORE!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

i love the USA so much i am starting to hate it. everything is about the money, even if it is damaging to society - not that my sentiments have much (if anything) to do with gibson suing walmart....

this country used to be great and was founded on awesome ideas, but it went from "what is good for the group" to "what is good for ME and fuck everyone else!!"

to me, gibson is just perpetuating this concept into the realm of the absurd. as was already mentioned, why sue a retailer?!?!?!