Rock band The Romantics suing 'Guitar Hero' maker Activision

Question

The Romantics have filed a federal lawsuit against Activision Inc., the maker of "Guitar Hero," saying the popular video game infringes on the band's rights by featuring a sound-alike recording of its 1980 hit "What I Like About You."

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in the group's hometown of Detroit, seeks unspecified damages.

The song is one of about 30 songs featured on "Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the '80s." The band also is seeking an injunction that could take the best-selling game off store shelves.

A copyright claim is not the issue for the Romantics. The band's attorneys tell the Detroit Free Press for Thursday's edition that Activision properly secured permission to use "What I Like About You," allowing it to record a cover version.

But they say by creating an imitation so much like the Romantics' original, the California-based company infringed on the group's rights to its own likeness.

Activision representatives did not return calls for comment from the Detroit Free Press.

Lippsman · Answer

The Romantics have filed a federal lawsuit against Activision Inc., the maker of "Guitar Hero," saying the popular video game infringes on the band's rights by featuring a sound-alike recording of its 1980 hit "What I Like About You."

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in the group's hometown of Detroit, seeks unspecified damages.

The song is one of about 30 songs featured on "Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the '80s." The band also is seeking an injunction that could take the best-selling game off store shelves.

A copyright claim is not the issue for the Romantics. The band's attorneys tell the Detroit Free Press for Thursday's edition that Activision properly secured permission to use "What I Like About You," allowing it to record a cover version.

But they say by creating an imitation so much like the Romantics' original, the California-based company infringed on the group's rights to its own likeness.

Activision representatives did not return calls for comment from the Detroit Free Press.

SecondAgain · Answer

Like most of us, Activision ptobably though the band had fallen off the face of the planet

tuxman · Answer

That&#x27;s what I don&#x27;t like about them.

paranoisense · Answer

[Quote: Originally Posted by tuxman] That&#x27;s what I don&#x27;t like about them.&#xD;&#xA;&#xD;&#xA;[/Quote]

tuxman · Answer

Now I love that song and just bought my kids Guitar Hero for Xmas so I will make sure they don&#x27;t play it.

chillery · Answer

They have to find some way to get paid now cause they suck.

bsforsale · Answer

i heard that the romantics caught wind of all this when they "heard the secrets that they keep, when they were talking in their sleep"

pezeveng · Answer

they should sign a sick deal with Zeppelin and make Hero 4 all Zeppelin tracks.

asloper6001 · Answer

pussies !!

legwand · Answer

I always thought it was "what i like about pooh".

STEELERS in 07 · Answer

Ya get the Led out!

jackjaffee · Answer

What a bunch of losers, I don&#x27;t see them winning shit with this.  Nowhere does it say they can&#x27;t make a cover that sounds like the original and they obviously gave their permission or it would&#x27;ve never been in the game.  I would guess they are going for a settlement of some sort, but it&#x27;s laughable because the song is only heard when you play the video game.&#xD;&#xA; &#xD;&#xA;Seems the Romantics should&#x27;ve done their homework because the game has done very close to original covers of all the songs on the 2 releases before that.

Rock band The Romantics suing 'Guitar Hero' maker Activision

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