Tuesday May 31, 8:30 AM Eastern Time
SOURCE: GameTech International, Inc.
RENO, Nev., May 31 -- GameTech International, Inc., a leading supplier of electronic bingo equipment, today announced that the U.S. District Court in Las Vegas issued judgment in favor of GameTech in long-standing patent litigation brought by competitor, Planet Bingo. The litigation, which began in 2001, centered around Planet Bingo's claim that GameTech was prohibited from offering any sort of progressive bingo game played on bingo devices using color. The District Court ruled that GameTech did not violate any of Planet Bingo's patents. The Court's ruling further cleared claims against two former GameTech founders and a former employee. The Court also ruled invalid certain patent claims asserted by Planet Bingo.
In rendering its decision, the District Court based its judgment on GameTech's pretrial motions, thereby eliminating the need for trial. According to Claude M. Stern of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges, the Silicon Valley based law firm which represented GameTech, the Court's rulings will significantly weaken Planet Bingo's patent enforcement program, and will allow GameTech to recover certain legal costs and potentially attorney's fees. "This is a complete victory for GameTech and confirms what we have been saying for almost four years, namely that GameTech is not infringing Planet Bingo's patents," said Stern. "Winning without a trial provides great savings for GameTech and its shareholders by eliminating the expense of a lengthy and, we believe, unnecessary trial. More important, however, the Court's decisive action sends a strong message to Planet Bingo and others who attempt to use patents as impediments to fair market competition."
John Furman, GameTech's President and CEO, praised the legal team and said that GameTech would continue to aggressively defend itself against competitors who tried to impede GameTech's commitment to innovation. "GameTech has always been known as a trendsetter in the bingo industry," said Furman. "Bingo operators -- many of whom are nonprofit organizations that fund their operations with bingo proceeds -- rely on us to offer the latest and greatest innovations so they can continue to attract old and new customers looking for added entertainment value. We cannot stand back and allow our competitors to prevent us from serving our customers in the best manner possible."
Stern stated that Planet Bingo has informed GameTech that it intends to appeal the decision.
GameTech International, Inc. is a leading supplier of a comprehensive line of electronic bingo equipment, including hand-held bingo units, fixed-base units and turnkey accounting and management software. The Company supports its bingo operator customers with products it believes increase play, revenues and profits, and software customized to enhance management and operations, all backed by unparalleled customer service and support.