IGT v. Global Gaming Technology, Inc.
Published: Apr. 12, 1997 | Result Date: Feb. 21, 1997 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: CVS9400601HDM – $0
Judge
Court
USDC Nevada
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Defendant
Joseph M. Vanek
(Sperling & Slater PC)
Experts
Plaintiff
David Cochran
(technical)
Harris Zimmerman
(technical)
Joachin Zier
(technical)
Defendant
Robert Whipple
(technical)
Robert Harnan
(technical)
Facts
Global Gaming Technology, Inc. accused IGT's S-slot and S-plus slot machines of infringing U.S. Patent No. 4,099,722 (722 Patent). The technology in dispute related to the electronics for selecting stop positions for each reel in a slot machine and subsequently driving the reels to the selected stop positions. IGT uses the allegedly infringing slot machines in its "Megabucks" and "Quartermania" progressive systems. The 722 patent is owned by Global and was filed on July 30, 1975. It issued on July 1, 1978 and expired on July 30, 1995. As an affirmative defense, the plaintiff claimed that the 722 patent was invalid and therefore unenforceable because the claimed invention was "on sale" more than one year prior to its filing date. Global contended that there was both literal infringement and infringement under the doctrine of equivalents and that the infringement was willful, as IGT copied the invention disclosed in the 722 patent and continued to infringe with full knowledge of the 722 patent. Plaintiff IGT brought this action against defendant Global Gaming seeking a declration that patent No. 4,099,722 (722) was invalid and not infringed by its 'S-Slot' and 'S-Plus Slot' machines. IGT also sought to recover attorney's fees and costs. The defendant/counter-plaintiff Global Gaming counter-sued for infringement of the 722 patent.
Settlement Discussions
Global made a settlement demand for $45 million. IGT made no settlement offers.
Damages
Global Gaming Technology, Inc. claimed over $150 million in damages against IGT for patent infringement.
Other Information
The verdict was reached approximately two years and seven months after the case was filed. The court found that Global had made a sale of 200 slot machines on Oct. 29, 1973 and that the patent was therefore invalid and unenforceable. The court also found that Global had substantially completed the claimed invention by June 1, 1994.
Length
8 days
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