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Patent Markings May Spell Trouble For Activision

Posted by Soulskill on from the almost-rocket-docket dept.

eldavojohn writes "If you pick up your copy of Guitar Hero and read the literature, you'll notice it says 'patent pending' and cites a number of patents. A group alleges no such patent pends nor are some of the patents applicable. If a judge finds Activision guilty of misleading the public in this manner, they could become liable for up to $500 per product sold under false patent marking. The patents in question seem to be legitimately Guitar Hero-oriented, and little is to be found about the mysterious group. The final piece of the puzzle puts the filing in Texas Northern District Court, which might be close enough to Texas Eastern District Court to write this off as a new kind of 'false patent marking troll' targeting big fish with deep coffers."

5 of 82 comments (clear)

  1. Hold On a Moment... by mano.m · · Score: 3, Funny

    I invented trolling for false patent markings (patent pending).

    --
    Karma fed to this user will be promptly burnt. Be warned; be wary.
  2. Maybe they used ... by WrongSizeGlass · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... numbers from Patent Hero, the newest game from Activision - you play along with the patent process but aren't really applying for them?

    You hold the pen. You fill out the forms. You are the Patent Hero!

    1. Re:Maybe they used ... by Arancaytar · · Score: 4, Funny

      Hey, you guys, playing this doesn't make you real inventors! Stop having fun!

    2. Re:Maybe they used ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Apparently you don't know the personality of us patent attorneys. We love to play the kind of game where you type the same phrase repetitively and redundantly, over and over. Heck, just look at the Claims on modern patents to see how we can restate the same thing with minor variations 21 times.

    3. Re:Maybe they used ... by WrongSizeGlass · · Score: 3, Funny

      Sure, but to test the game you need some input from patent specialists, who are way to expensive for a video game.

      That's why you need Specialist Hero ... sorry, I just couldn't resist. ;-)