Metallica sue Harmonix and Activision for copyright Infringement

[Zeus]

Metallica filed a lawsuit yesterday against Harmonix and Activision over alleged copyright infringement. It is claimed that the respective companies plan to illegally distribute copies of Metallica songs in the upcoming Guitar Hero III and Rockband which are due for a release in late 2007.



The suit alleges that both companies planned to package and distribute Metallica music through their video games in what lawyers characterized as a "licensed music to player" system, or LM2P network. Metallica is fearful that album sales could decline if their fans were able to simply walk into any Gamestop or Best Buy and purchase an $80 video game that contained one of their songs.

"The band learned its lesson the hard way with file sharing in the late 90s," counsel for Metallica told reporters in a statement released soon after the filing. "This time they want to do a pre-emptive strike before the music gets out there."

Metallica's attorneys neither confirmed nor denied reports that they had issued subpoenas to major video game retailers asking for lists of customers who had pre-ordered copies of Guitar Hero III and Rock Band. When asked to comment, Gamestop representatives asked reporters if they were looking forward to Halo 3 and if they would like to maybe pre-order a copy to make sure they got one at the release.

Attorneys for the gaming companies named in the lawsuit were bemused by the lawsuit. "Our company paid a licensing fee to feature the track 'One' by Metallica in Guitar Hero III," counsel for Activision/Red Octane told reporters. "We don't understand why Metallica would turn around and sue us, unless they've gone from insane completely batshit insane since 2001, but we're confident that the law and our contracts will be enough to have this thrown out."


News Source: <A href="http://www.dailygaming.net/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=230" target="_blank">Dailygaming.net</a>

[El Nacho]

That article's obviously a joke.

...right?

[nwo504]

they still make music?

halo 3 preorder

[whackawookie]

That article's obviously a joke.

...right?

although i hope its a joke its no secret that lars is a bi%$ch. He is always whining about something and in previous interviews before guitar hero came out for the 360 harmonix was asked why metallica wasn't a song choice, they said we would rather not talk about it. If this is true then metallica needs to get there s*&t together because there music isnt what it once was so they need all the publicity they can get since mtv doesnt play videos anymore

[kickinass]

Just shows that Metallica still suck and are still a bunch of whiny bitches.

[grapeape]

This is obviously parody...just a poor attempt at it.

[dc_man]

Just shows that Metallica still suck and are still a bunch of whiny bitches.

Agreed. Especially Lars..I want to curb stomp that bitches face Gears of War style.

[whackawookie]

wait what the hell is this about

Metallica's attorneys neither confirmed nor denied reports that they had issued subpoenas to major video game retailers asking for lists of customers who had pre-ordered copies of Guitar Hero III and Rock Band
what do they plan on doing suing gamers that pay for games which features there music that they agreed to allow?

[Jar Jar Insano]

Goes to show you what lengths a band goes to to make money after their "new sound" flops. If you are from Metallica and know one of the members, tell them this: Make good music like you used to back in the days of Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets, Black Album etc. and then you won't have to do bullshit lawsuits over free advertising of the good music you used to play.

[El Nacho]

manconsole should be more careful on the "news" they report.

[thefunkhunter]

Well anyone remember metallica's dispute with napster and p2p. It seems Metallica are nothing more than a bunch of money grabbin has beens. They are really stuck up when it comes to their music. I don't think they support sharing their music over the internet or video games because their afraid that if their fans have their songs in any other format than an album cd, they will lose money. Can you really blame them? They know they suck and can't make good music so they r trying to milk every dollar they can get. Personally I'd rather their songs not be in guitar hero or rockband as i think they are one of the most overrated metal bands ever. They only reason they got popular was because of mtv's pushing their music video in the 80's and early 90's. Now that they don't have that luxury, their only alternative is to sue the very companies like napster and guitar hero that are giving them the very exposure they need at this point in their career. Very ironic indeed, or just plain dumb on behalf of Metallica.

[bobbyballard]

thefunkhunter said exactly what I clicked the Discuss In Forums button to say.

They did this **** before and it's sad.

[whackawookie]

this thread has absolutely nothing to do with ms. any idiotic rants or pointless troll actions will be deleted

[kickinass]

Would be better to just remove him from the site. He's nothing but a 12 year old troll anyway.

[Sepioth]

manconsole should be more careful on the "news" they report.

heheh ... MANconsole


Did they say Metallica was in GH3??? must have missed that.

Either way if it is then Metallica does not have a leg to stand on as all the music is licensed. If it is in the game it is authorized by either the recording label, artist or both. Harmonix is not just pulling songs from a hat and adding them. They need authorization to be using songs.

[whackawookie]

Would be better to just remove him from the site. He's nothing but a 12 year old troll anyway.

probably but meh. some people find him amusing eventhough nobody actually agrees with him

[gamerzworld]

I'm sorry but the record company handles the licensing, not the band. Oh and btw, Something tells me "dailygaming.net" is probably not the best source for news.

[whackawookie]

I'm sorry but the record company handles the licensing, not the band. Oh and btw, Something tells me "dailygaming.net" is probably not the best source for news.

probably not your right but with metallica's track record for complaining its very hard to brush off as fake. im sure if its not true harmonix, activision or even mtv will come forward about this

[FoG]

When asked to comment, Gamestop representatives asked reporters if they were looking forward to Halo 3 and if they would like to maybe pre-order a copy to make sure they got one at the release.This made me laugh a bit. It also sealed that this article is fake.

[Ursac]

F***n Lars at it again. Someone needs to put that piece o crap out of his misery. If it wasnt for his constant whining and arogant behavior. Of forgetting what made him (the fans) he wouldnt be Sh** on a stick. After all everyone can thank him for the whole revision of the copy right laws. And the stupid DRM coding where ya cant even back up your own music. If we were in a closed room he wouldnt be moving much when I got done. I havent went to a concert or pruchased one of thier cd's sense he whined in court. Man I hate that Son of a B****

[Mikeyy]

Is this article real or Is metallica Fucking stupid? Guitar Hero and Rock band are Ultimate PR.

Do they think sombody is going to bother ripping the songs off of a game you have to purchase for $100/$200 each!

I can Download every single metallica song for free, right now.

[p$p b0y]

this thread has absolutely nothing to do with ms. any idiotic rants or pointless troll actions will be deleted

let me guess... its that moron satel again....

[Evil-Rebirth]

Well anyone remember metallica's dispute with napster and p2p. It seems Metallica are nothing more than a bunch of money grabbin has beens. They are really stuck up when it comes to their music. I don't think they support sharing their music over the internet or video games because their afraid that if their fans have their songs in any other format than an album cd, they will lose money. Can you really blame them? They know they suck and can't make good music so they r trying to milk every dollar they can get. Personally I'd rather their songs not be in guitar hero or rockband as i think they are one of the most overrated metal bands ever. They only reason they got popular was because of mtv's pushing their music video in the 80's and early 90's. Now that they don't have that luxury, their only alternative is to sue the very companies like napster and guitar hero that are giving them the very exposure they need at this point in their career. Very ironic indeed, or just plain dumb on behalf of Metallica.

Yep, Metallica pretty much single handledly killed napster (the good one). How can somebody compare a track on a videogame to a track on a CD? Do they really think that someone would rather (or even consider) power on their video game system, browse through a list of sings (instead of playing a cd or mp3), just to listen to a metallica song? As far as I know, GH doesn't facilitate listening to music, it doesn't have a playlist editor. The people I know that play guitar hero actually buy it to play the songs, not for a half ass way to get songs from a certain band, especially not for $80.

[CZroe]

Come on MaxConsole! Don't post something that is so obviously a joke and pretend it's true without at least adding a "LOL!" in the headline.

You really think Gamestop responded to the press that way? When a writer goes that far, it's to make sure that you understood that the article was satire: IT'S A JOKE.

[LeGioN1202]

I just think it is hilarious how Harmonix is getting sued for something to do with Guitar Hero III... they didn't make the game... Neversoft did.

They have been working hard on Rock Band. :D

Teaches you what happens when Activision buys Red Octane and then shifts Dev duties from Harmonix to Neversoft.

Without a doubt this is a joke post... surprised nobody else realized this, lol.

Are the news writers here really that uninformed when it actually comes to Video Games? This they should have spotted right off the bat.

[LeGioN1202]

NVM, just realized Rock Band was included. Now I see where Harmonix fits in.

Didn't know Metallica was in it.

[stryker98]

I bet the late cliff burton is turning in his grave watching as his former drinking pals and bandmates turned from groundbreaking metal band to money hunger bastards they are now. Lars has forgotten that we the fans made metallica what they were up to the black album.:mad: BTW is the long version of One in the game or a shorter version like what they did to Black Sabbath's War Pigs.:confused:

[Knaledge]

...............

[FNG]

HMXSean the community forum leader for Harmonix on the official Rock Band forums, has said that the article from dailygaming.net is absolutely false.

http://www.rockband.com/vbforum/showthread.php?t=3073&page=2

[snipersnake]

I bet the late cliff burton is turning in his grave watching as his former drinking pals and bandmates turned from groundbreaking metal band to money hunger bastards they are now. Lars has forgotten that we the fans made metallica what they were up to the black album.:mad: BTW is the long version of One in the game or a shorter version like what they did to Black Sabbath's War Pigs.:confused:

sad but true. i like metallica, i was like thier loyal fan when i was still a kid, went to all their gigs and ****.i even have the boxed cd collection with the snake engraving. but if this news is even real (is harmonix still on GH3??) I am sad. I hope the song neversoft chose to be in the game was worth it, no aint those LOAD RELOAD crap..something from burton's time like seek and destroy, or master of puppets or at least for whom the bells toll.

[kickinass]

sad but true. i like metallica, i was like thier loyal fan when i was still a kid, went to all their gigs and ****.i even have the boxed cd collection with the snake engraving. but if this news is even real (is harmonix still on GH3??) I am sad. I hope the song neversoft chose to be in the game was worth it, no aint those LOAD RELOAD crap..something from burton's time like seek and destroy, or master of puppets or at least for whom the bells toll.

It says right in the article that they chose "One" as the tune they are using. But hey, whats the point in reading the article when the title is so detailed....

[Xpando Systems]

What is it with these guys when they first stareted out they didn't care if someone bootlegged any of the performances or live song demo's, but now they will try bleed all your money from you if they catch you with any unofficial. I think their attitude may of changed after Master Of Puppets (their best album I believe) when they lost their freak of a bassist named Cliff in a bus accident.

[Dirtie]

sad but true. i like metallica, i was like thier loyal fan when i was still a kid, went to all their gigs and ****.i even have the boxed cd collection with the snake engraving. but if this news is even real (is harmonix still on GH3??) I am sad. I hope the song neversoft chose to be in the game was worth it, no aint those LOAD RELOAD crap..something from burton's time like seek and destroy, or master of puppets or at least for whom the bells toll.

lol ;)

Seems this is fake anyway, just like the hoax where Metallica were supposedly suing certain bands because of the use of certain guitar chords that were supposedly 'trademarks' of theirs.

[Xenogears V]

Certainly that every occasion is good to f*cking money.

[CZroe]

lol ;)

Seems this is fake anyway, just like the hoax where Metallica were supposedly suing certain bands because of the use of certain guitar chords that were supposedly 'trademarks' of theirs.

Satire != hoax. This was never intended to fool anyone, but when reported on other news sites without a "lol" or anything thrown in to differentiate from the regular news, it becomes harder to differentiate.

[WickedSkin]

After Black Album, Metallica sucked, and yes they all are money hungry ass holes and they are fu*king anti rock those assholes.

[matt_nttp]

This is fake, they closed the thread in the rock band forums.

When i saw this thread i thought that it was fake i don't know why, but is really metallica selling well now? i think they screwed up long time ago, "Saint Anger" was AWFUL!!!!!!!!!!!