The Romantics vs Guitar Hero
p2pnet news | Music:- Rock band the Romantics have sued Activision Publishing over its Guitar Hero videogame.
The game’s version of “What I Like About You” sounds too much like them, say the Romantics.
“The suit, filed yesterday in federal District Court in Detroit, claims that the sound-alike recording of the song improperly imitates the band’s sound, which the members have developed since 1979,” says Billboard, going on:
“The recording makes it ‘virtually indistinguishable from the authentic version’ and confuses consumers into believing that the band actually recorded the music and endorsed the product, the suit says.”
The band also wants an injunction, “which could take the bestseller off store shelves in the thick of the holiday shopping season,” says the Detroit Free Press.
Users, “try to play along to songs”.
But copyright isn’t the issue, says the story, adding:
“The band’s attorneys said Activision properly secured permission to use the song ‘hat I Like About You,’ which allowed it to record a cover version. But by creating an imitation so much like the Romantics’ original, they said, the company has infringed the group’s right to its own image and likeness.”
Also See:
Billboard - The Romantics Sue Activision Over ‘Guitar Hero’, November 21, 2007
Detroit Free Press - Detroit band locks horns with ‘Guitar Hero’ over copycat recording, November 21, 2007
Use free p2pnet newsfeeds for your site. It’s really easy!
Subscribe to p2pnet.net | | rss feed: http://p2pnet.net/p2p.rss | | Mobile - http://p2pnet.net/index-wml.php
Net access blocked by government restrictions? Use Psiphon from the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto. Go here for the download, and here for details. Click here or here to learn how to by-pass censorship in your area.
November 22nd, 2007 at 10:10 am
Only shitty covers are allowed.
November 22nd, 2007 at 1:11 pm
U suck Romantics. Suing Activision for promoting your music. You all have to be the dumbest people in the history of time. Just fuck right off and find a hole to die in. I use to like u guys … up to about 3 minutes ago. As we speak Im am filing all the band merchandise I bought into the garbage can where it obviously belongs. Never again will I post a positive comment about your band … in fact every day I will make it a point to tell someone how crappy you are. Get over yourselves and just cause you blew all your money on strapons so u can pump eachother doesnt mean you gotta go sue a company for putting a song like yours on a great game. I sure hope one of ur band members reads this because I got a message for ya … EAT SHIT AND DIE!!!! U are the scum of society and when you are ready (hopefully now) please kill yourself so we dont have to deal with ur shit anymore. Sorry if I offended anybody (except the band members … I hope they get offended to the point that they slip into a depression and kill themselves). As for you readers I did not mean to offend you.
November 23rd, 2007 at 6:21 pm
Those fucking tossers. You would think they’d be stoked about being included in such a high-profile game, especially when you look at the fact that they are a totally unimportant band (then & now) who are known for two stupid pop songs that nobody cares about anyway. I think they’re bitter & jealous of RS’s fame, & are using this lame excuse to take a liitle bite out of the games profit.
November 24th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
who cares? Activision sucks anyway. Ever since the Guitar Hero series was sold to Activision its sucked… Rock Band > All