Patent Infringement Problems

IGT and Bally are involved in various patent infringement suits in addition to several antitrust claims against each other.  Each claims that the other has stolen their ideas. This rivalry between the two companies has been going on for years.

Their rivalry is so intense that they bring their intellectual property lawyers with them to various exhibitions so they can check out their rival’s exhibits.  The lawyers go over the other’s technology to see if they can find any intellectual property and other violations.

One of the many patent infringement suits was thrown out of court last month in Nevada.  This suit was one of IGT’s involving the Wheel of Fortune bonus wheel slot.  IGT claimed that Bally’s Reel Winners game was the result of stolen technology taken from their Wheel of Fortune bonus wheel. 

As a result of the suit, the judge removed the patent from IGT so now the bonus wheel is without patent protection.  Without patent protection, anyone can develop a similar machine using the bonus wheel technology.  IGT is expected to appeal the ruling. 

This case is important because bonus wheel machines are among the most popular in the casino.  Without patent protection, the casino could begin to build their own machines. 

Posted: November 16, 2008

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