Acres Emerges Victorious in Patent Dispute with IGT
Date: 2023-11-17 Author: Dima Zakharov Categories: CASINO, EVENTS
Landmark Decision by USPTO
In a significant development, the USPTO has handed a major defeat to IGT in a patent dispute with Acres. IGT had alleged that Acres' Foundation casino management system violated its patents, but the USPTO ruled otherwise.
Foundation's Casino Management Solutions
Acres' Foundation product provides casino management solutions, including cashless options for brick-and-mortar casinos. The recent update to Foundation, known as Foundation HQ, enhances its capabilities.
IGT's Allegations and Legal Battle
IGT, holding 200 patents, claimed that Acres violated four of its patents with the Foundation system. This led to a legal battle, with IGT seeking royalties for the product. Acres presented evidence to the USPTO, resulting in a reexamination that favored Acres, concluding that the Foundation product does not infringe on IGT's patents.
John Acres' Reaction
John Acres, founder of Acres, expressed satisfaction with the USPTO's decision, emphasizing that Foundation does not infringe on IGT's patents. He believes that, if upheld, the decision will dismiss all claims of infringement against Foundation, preventing a price increase for the product.
Potential Impact on Foundation
Acres argued that the asserted patents should never have been used against his company. If IGT had succeeded, the imposed royalties on Foundation could have forced a price increase.
Recent Developments
Acres recently appointed David Bain as the new CFO, praising his invaluable expertise. Meanwhile, IGT published Q3 results, indicating healthy revenues with optimism for long-term performance. Additionally, IGT launched the IGT PlaySport-powered sportsbook in Puerto Rico a week ago.
