Last year Gibson Guitars filed a suit against Activision claiming they had infringed upon a patent the guitar manufacture had filed that described a "System and method for generating and controlling a simulated musical concert experience."

According to more details in the description, the user also wears a head-piece that generates a 3D image with speakers, all utilised to play a real musical instrument in a simulated concert experience (sounds kind of cumbersome).

Edge reports Activision not only beat the claim on grounds the Guitar Hero guitars and drums don't count as real instruments, but that "Gibson's doctrine of equivalents arguments border on the frivolous." Take that Gibson!

It seems somewhat greedy and non business partner like on Gibson's part, especially given Activision actually licensed the Gibson brand to authenticate their instruments just that little bit more.