According to Bloomberg, the Konami patents, issued in 2002 and 2003, cover simulated musical instruments, a music-game system and a “musical-rhythm matching game”.

Konami, which recently announced plans to release Rock Revolution, a music-based title with a drum kit peripheral, is reported to be seeking cash compensation and an order that would block Viacom and Harmonix from using the inventions.

The suit, Konami Digital Entertainment Co. v. Harmonix Music Systems Inc., was filed on July 9 in a federal court in Marshall, Texas.

A spokesperson for Viacom said that the company had yet to receive the complaint from Konami and so would not issue a comment.

Rock Band was released last November in North America, and a sequel is slated for release in September.