Court rules in favour of Aristocrat, granting an injunction against Light & Wonder for the Dragon Train casino game.
There are partnerships in the online gambling industry, and then there's strife among competitors .
While we're always excited to discuss the latest partnerships, we also need to provide information on the latest industry changes.
A big focus point recently has been the fight and court case between Aristocrat and Light & Wonder (ex SG Digital) . The end seems closer today, with Aristocrat winning the injunction against the latter.
Preliminary injunction granted
Light & Wonder has been forced to stop the rollout of its popular Dragon Train game after Aristocrat Technologies Inc. won a major legal victory in a recent court case against the Las Vegas-based company.
During the hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Gloria Navarro ruled in favour of Aristocrat and issued an injunction that prevented Light & Wonder from selling or marketing the title .
The case is based on the latest of the Light & Wonder games , Dragon Train. Currently, anything surrounding it has been put to a halt .
The court recognises that Light & Wonder created the game by misappropriating trade secrets from Aristocrat. According to the court, Aristocrat is highly likely to succeed in proving that to be true.
In a recent statement, Light & Wonder said that they will be filing an appeal promptly and will continue to defend against the claims by Aristocrat.
What's all this about?
Aristocrat filed a lawsuit against Light & Wonder, claiming that two of its former developers who are now working at Light & Wonder used proprietary technology and concepts during the creation of Light & Wonder’s Dragon Train and Jewel of the Dragon slots.
The primary concern is that Light & Wonder is not just mimicking the designs but reaping benefits from a significant investment made by Aristocrat during the development of the original titles.
The bigger picture
Light & Wonder wanted the court case thrown out, stating that Aristocrat had "targeted" them in various states regarding different games. The court ruled in favour of Aristocrat in getting Light & Wonder to put their current activities on pause .
One important thing to understand is that the online gaming industry is constantly changing, which means the competition is extremely tight. If unique features or mechanics are trademarked, they can be monetised.
The court case ruling is one that sends a clear, strong message to the gaming industry stating that the protection of intellectual property is important when it comes to any new or unique innovations.
Aristocrat is one of the longstanding providers that has maintained a high ranking within the industry while keeping its creative and technological advancements under wraps. This and Aristocrat's impressive portfolio clearly show the company's dedication to its craft.
It's also a reminder to companies like Light & Wonder that no quick fix or corner-cutting will be beneficial in the end. In fact, this isn't the first time the company has faced legal trouble over such practices. Recently, Evolution filed a lawsuit against Light & Wonder for the misappropriation of trade secrets.
It's evident that copying competitors' games will certainly lead to legal battles , which could be heavy on the wallet .
Creativity above all else
Innovation is important. Casino games are no longer as simple as when the industry first started, and a lot of brain power goes into each creation . Not to mention the years of research and technological advancements made behind the screens.
With this current legal battle, Aristocrat shows that it's not only serious about maintaining its position as a leader within the industry but also that it will not tolerate or ignore the unlawful use of its innovations and intellectual property.
Depending on the outcome of the case, we may even see increased scrutiny of intellectual property practices and more investments in legal protections. The good thing is that we may also see providers work even harder to develop games unique to them.