Aristocrat accuses Light & Wonder of infringement of intellectual property rights

Famous slot machine maker and digital content provider Aristocrat Technologies Inc. has sued gaming equipment supplier Light & Wonder Inc. in the US, claiming intellectual property rights have been violated, especially with regard to the Dragon-themed games that both businesses sell.

The case was filed on February 26 in the United States District Court of Nevada, according to court documents that GGRAsia seen. Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd is listed as a plaintiff in these documents as well. LNW Gaming Inc. and SciPlay Corp. are two other Light & Wonder companies named as defendants in the case.

Aristocrat has allegedly sued Light & Wonder of violating its intellectual property rights by publishing the “Dragon Train” series of video games, according to allegations in Australian media. This new title was recently introduced to the US market after it was first launched in Australia last year.

According to Aristocrat, a competitor used confidential trade secrets from “Dragon Link,” one of their popular games. The company also claims that former Aristocrat employees who work for Light & Wonder misappropriated these trade secrets, potentially breaking Nevada state laws, according to the Australian Financial Review.

According to the lawsuit, Aristocrat’s Dragon Link and Light & Wonder’s game have similar bonus features, pay tables, symbols, and game regulations. Additionally, it alleges that former Aristocrat employees provided Light & Wonder with private information to help them create their new title.

It seems like Aristocrat is asking for expedited access to Light & Wonder’s internal documents to ascertain the extent of the alleged exploitation of its intellectual property—that is, the design, programming, and operation of the Dragon Train game.

The former executives of Aristocrat now control Light & Wonder replied by calling Aristocrat’s accusations “entirely without merit.” The spokesperson said that they plan to vigorously oppose the case and anticipate submitting a response by the end of the week.

Original story by: GGRAsia