“Rock Band” developers Harmonix have responded to Gibson Guitar Corporation’s lawsuit accusing the MTV/EA/Harmonix game of patent infringement:

“This lawsuit is completely without merit and we intend to defend it vigorously,” the Harmonix statement reads. “Gibson’s patent, filed nearly 10 years ago, required a 3D display, a real musical instrument and a recording of a concert. Rock Band and Guitar Hero are completely different: among other things they are games, require no headset and use a controller only shaped like a real instrument. It is unfortunate that Gibson unfairly desires to share in the tremendous success enjoyed by the developers of Rock Band and Guitar Hero.”

(For more on how Gibson compares its patent with “Guitar Hero,” check out the manufacturer’s nine-page chart re-printed in this earlier Multiplayer post.)