We're used to seeing big companies like Activision sue and lawyer people to death to get its way, but now the briefcase is on the other foot, so to speak. The mega-publisher is being sued by the Patent Compliance Group for false patent marketing.
Companies routinely file for patents for upcoming projects, as well as for games, technology, and initiatives that might not even see the light of day. According to the Patent Compliance Group, however, Activision has overstepped its bounds by marking products with patents whose scope doesn't cover the product, stamping products with "patent pending" when it's not, and saying something has been patented when it hasn't. One of the Activision patents in question is for a DDR-like floor pad which the Patent Compliance Group claims is not applicable to Guitar Hero.
The fine Activision would face is paltry ($500 per violation), but the Patent Compliance Group – a private company – is serious about its lawsuit because it believes false patents are detrimental to innovation and competition.
via Joystiq