The Hobgoblin is the third incarnation of Goblin characters, created when Roderick Kingsley discovered an abandoned secret lair of the supervillain known as the Green Goblin. Using the Green Goblin's equipment, Kingsley adopted the identity of the Hobgoblin and set out to plague Spider-Man. Eventually, he framed Peter Parker's friend and co-worker Ned Leeds as being the man behind the Hobgoblin's mask, and retired; Leeds was killed while wearing the Hobgoblin's costume, and was believed for several years to have actually been the Hobgoblin.
source: http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Hobgoblin%20(Spiderman%20Villain)
A futher note. When Harry becomes the Goblin, he does so as his father, not as himself. The tipoff is the mirror scene. In this sense, it is "Norman Osborne lives again!". A side note. The films combine the characters of Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane Watson into one. In the comics, the bridge scene from the first film truely is a deadly choice for Spiderman, as his attempt to first save the group and then save Gwen, fails.
Hmm. Sorry, make that fourth incarnation. I had forgotten about Dr Barton Hamilton, who learns the Green Goblins secrets by treating Harry.
Thanks! Call me mis-informed! :)