Guitar Hero publisher believe they should be compensated if EA's rival game makes use of their technology, specifically their guitar controllers, hence the firm's move to block a patch from making the version of Rock Band work with GHIII's controller.

"Unfortunately for Rock Band users, Harmonix has been unwilling to discuss an agreement that will allow us to provide that option in a manner that maintains the high standards people have come to expect from Activision," Acti's Maryanne Lataif told The Boston Globe. "We believe we should be compensated for the use of our technology."

Rock Band maker Harmonix, meanwhile, reckon they're "really and truly not looking at this from the financial standpoint", adding that "we are looking at this from the consumer standpoint." Hence the disagreement, we imagine.

PS3 owners look rather stuck for now then, the PS3 version of Rock Band not functioning with GHIII's guitar, despite Harmonix originally promising that it would - a move scuppered for now by Activision. What are your thoughts on this, I wonder?

By Luke Guttridge