Leading technology licensing firm 1st Technology LLC has ended its long-running legal action against Bodog and the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group after the two agreed a resolution on all outstanding litigation.
Kahnawake-based Morris Mohawk operates the popular Bodog online poker brand founded by Calvin Ayre. The Canadian entrepreneur was originally sued by 1st Technology in 2007 in Seattle for the alleged unauthorised use of 1st patents, forcing him to change the brand’s domain name from Bodog.com to BodogLife.com.
1st Technology claimed a $48 million uncontested judgment after it claimed that Bodog had infringed upon its American patent entitled ‘Method And System For Interactively Transmitting Multimedia Information Aver A Network Which Requires A Reduced Bandwidth While Operating In The US’.
The recent settlement resolves 1st Technology’s judgment collection efforts in addition to covering core multi-media patents for advanced gaming products and could mean that Morris Mohawk would be able to reopen Bodog.com.
“The 1st Technology patents, developed by early multi-media pioneer Dr Scott Lewis, Chief Executive Officer for 1st Technology, are targeted at providing enhanced interactivity and optimised delivery of high quality multi-media information over various bandwidth networks including narrowband and broadband telephone, cable and wireless Internet,” read a statement from 1st Technology.
“While the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group was not the judgment debtor, Morris Mohawk Gaming Group is the exclusive licensee of the Bodog brand within the region and, as such, activities that impact the brand necessarily impact our businesses,” said Alwyn Morris, Chief Executive Officer for Morris Mohawk.
“We are pleased to have worked constructively with 1st Technology and its principals to bring an end to this protracted dispute. This resolution will provide certainty and will also allow us to continue to enhance our technology base for online gaming in order to provide our users with unfettered access to the best technology.’
‘We are pleased to have finally resolved this dispute and applaud Mr Morris for his proactive and constructive approach,” said Lewis.
For his part, Ayre stated that he was happy that the situation had been resolved but told online news portal Point-Spreads.com that he had no idea about the specific terms of the settlement.
“Other than the fact that the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group acquired all the seized domains and the default judgment was satisfied, I don’t know anything more than anyone else,” said Ayre.
“Alwyn told me that the details of the settlement agreement were strictly confidential, so I respect that. It’ll be great for the Morris Mohawk Gaming Group and great for the Bodog brand. Bodog.com is back.”
Abstract from www.igamingbusiness.com
