Acclaimed casino technology guru, Acres, recently managed to fend off accusations of patent infringement by leading software supplier, IGT, in a decision reached by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The allegations were centered around Acres’ Foundation casino management system, with IGT asserting that it infringed upon their own patents.
To help understand the context, Foundation is a product designed to provide comprehensive casino management solutions to its clientele, with prominent features being cashless solutions tailored for traditional casinos. The system has undergone a recent upgrade and now operates under the name Foundation HQ.
IGT, however, lodged a complaint claiming that their competitor’s product had violated four out of its vast portfolio of 200 patents. It subsequently sought legal action in a bid to compel Acres to fork out royalties for the alleged infringement associated with the Foundation system.
However, Acres retorted by presenting their evidence to the USPTO, seeking a reevaluation of the quartet of patent infringement contentions. Following this counter-action, the US patent body ruled in favor of Acres, asserting that the Foundation’s software did not infringe any of IGT’s patents.
It’s worth noting that Acres was established by casino industry veteran and AGA hall-of-famer, John Acres. The company strives to deliver state-of-the-art casino technology, aiding their partners to outshine their competitors.
John Acres Remarks IGT’s Patent Claims Were Mistaken
John Acres provided his thoughts on the USPTO’s ruling, depicting it as a significant victory for his team and a setback for their foreign competition. He emphasized that the USPTO found no evidence of the Foundation software, or its features, infringing any of IGT’s patents.
Provided the USPTO’s judgments remain valid, which I firmly believe will be the case, all allegations of infringement against Foundation will be dropped. Moreover, this will prevent any price hikes for Foundation, marking a victory for both Acres and our casino clientele.
John Acres
Acres further conveyed his certainty that the patent criticisms against his firm were erroneously made in the first place.
As pointed out by Acres, a successful lawsuit by IGT would necessitate the imposition of royalties on the Foundation system. This would result in an increase in the system’s price.
About a month ago, David Bain was chosen to take up the position of chief financial officer at Acres. Founder, John Acres, warmly welcomed the new addition to the team, commending his invaluable expertise.
Meanwhile, amidst the recent legal battle, IGT has released its Q3 results. Although the numbers show stagnation, the revenue figures remain robust. Barring a few hurdles, the company’s leadership remains hopeful about IGT’s long-term perspective.
Just last week, IGT introduced their IGT PlaySport-powered sportsbook in Puerto Rico, further amplifying their international presence.
