• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Saturday 14 June 2025
  • zh-hant 中文
  • ja 日本語
  • en English
IAG
Advertisement
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 中文
No Result
View All Result
IAG
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 中文
No Result
View All Result
IAG
No Result
View All Result

Nevada court grants Aristocrat preliminary injunction in case against rival Light & Wonder’s Dragon Train

Ben Blaschke by Ben Blaschke
Tue 24 Sep 2024 at 10:48
Aristocrat taking rival Light & Wonder to court claiming new “Dragon Train” game series breaches intellectual property
148
SHARES
3.7k
VIEWS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Global gaming supplier Light & Wonder says it will promptly file an appeal after the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada granted rival Aristocrat a preliminary injunction relating to Light & Wonder’s “Dragon Train” series.

According to a statement from Aristocrat, the decision temporarily prohibits Light & Wonder from “any continued or planned sale, leasing, or other commercialization of Dragon Train”.

The case, first filed in March, relates to allegations by Aristocrat that “Dragon Train” bears an uncanny similarity to its own “Dragon Link” series, and accusing Light & Wonder of misappropriating Aristocrat’s intellectual property, imitating copyrighted audio-visual elements, copying game mechanics and gameplay, copyright infringement and deceptive trade practices. The lawsuit also questions the significant number of former Aristocrat executives in senior leadership roles at Light & Wonder and specifically the role played by two former Aristocrat designers – Emma Charles and Lloyd Sefton – who worked on “Dragon Link” and are said to have also led the development of “Dragon Train”.

In a statement issued late Monday local Nevada time, Aristocrat noted that the court’s decision finds it is “extremely likely to succeed in demonstrating Light & Wonder misappropriated Aristocrat’s trade secrets in development of Dragon Train”. The injunction also points to “the public interest in protecting trade secrets and preventing competitors from receiving an unfair advantage.”

“We are extremely pleased with the court’s decision,” said Aristocrat’s Chief Product Officer, Matthew Primmer. “This ruling underscores the value of our intellectual property and reaffirms our commitment to protecting the integrity of our business. We will continue to innovate and invest in cutting-edge solutions, knowing that the law protects our creative efforts.”

Light & Wonder issued a statement of its own after receiving the court order in which the company said it “respectfully disagrees” with the judge’s decision and will promptly file an appeal.

“We will continue to vigorously defend against Aristocrat’s claims, including presenting our defenses to a jury at a trial,” the company said.

Light & Wonder also reiterated its US$1.4 billion consolidated Adjusted EBITDA target for 2025, citing its pre-ruling estimate that Dragon Train would contribute less than 5% to its 2025 Adjusted EBITDA target and that the company would move forward on a number of key initiatives to mitigate the immediate impact and any continuing business disruption from the court’s order.

“We have a diversified portfolio of successful game franchises that are driving our strong performance and growth, of which Dragon Train is only one,” Light & Wonder’s statement said.

“Increased investment in our R&D engine has and continues to deliver innovative, engaging content that gives us a continuing competitive advantage not tied to any one game or franchise.”

The company’s President and CEO, Matt Wilson, added, “We have the best game design talent in the industry, and they are creating great games across all our channels.

“We are excited about the new games we will be featuring at the Global Gaming Expo in October. We expect our strong growth trajectory to continue, notwithstanding this decision. We have built an amazing business and a solid financial foundation over the last several years with great teams driving our success and are highly confident in our future of continuing innovation and ability to achieve our stated 2025 US$1.4 billion Targeted Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA.”

Wilson, who previously headed up Aristocrat’s Americas team, is one of a number of former Aristocrat executives now at Light & Wonder including chairman Jamie Odell and director Toni Korsanos.

Aristocrat’s original court documents claim that “Rather than attempting to create their own successful game, defendants (Light & Wonder) have repeatedly sought to freeride on the success of Aristocrat’s ‘Dragon Link’.

“Over the last several years, Light & Wonder has hired a number of former Aristocrat executives and game designers. With these former Aristocrat employees at the helm, Light & Wonder has launched a series of copies of Aristocrat’s most popular game, ‘Dragon Link’.

“After hiring numerous former Aristocrat employees, including many executives and game designers, Light & Wonder began taking aim at ‘Dragon Link’ by misappropriating Aristocrat’s intellectual property: first by copying Dragon Link’s trademarked name with a game called ‘Dragon Unleashed Link’, then by copying Dragon Link’s copyrighted audio-visual elements and distinctive trade dress with a game called ‘Jewel of the Dragon’, and most recently by copying Dragon Link’s game mechanics and gameplay – which are based on valuable Aristocrat trade secrets – with a game called ‘Dragon Train’.”

In its statement in response to this week’s court ruling, Light & Wonder said it is already working on new iterations of the Dragon Train franchise consistent with the terms of the court’s ruling.

RelatedPosts

Everi which way

Merged Everi-IGT entity seen holding greater share of US slots sales market than Light & Wonder and Aristocrat

Tue 10 Jun 2025 at 15:16
IGT, Scientific Games help boost AGEM Index in December

AGEM Index holds steady in May despite mixed results from gaming suppliers

Thu 5 Jun 2025 at 20:35
Genting’s KT Lim moving to take New York’s Resorts World Catskills private

Genting Malaysia completes full acquisition of troubled US entity Empire Resorts

Wed 4 Jun 2025 at 04:53
Resorts World Las Vegas – Lighting up the north

Genting’s RWLV to “re-establish VIP play” after settling regulatory complaint as analysts warn of need to recalibrate “risk appetite”

Sun 1 Jun 2025 at 09:56
Load More
Tags: AristocratDragon LinkDragon TraininjunctionLight and WonderNevadaNorth AmericaUS District Court
Share59Share10
Ben Blaschke

Ben Blaschke

A former sports journalist in Sydney, Australia, Ben has been Managing Editor of Inside Asian Gaming since early 2016. He played a leading role in developing and launching IAG Breakfast Briefing in April 2017 and oversees as well as being a key contributor to all of IAG’s editorial pursuits.

Current Issue

Editorial – Foreigner-only casinos: Seize the day

Editorial – Foreigner-only casinos: Seize the day

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 29 May 2025 at 13:38

I was recently asked by someone working at a foreigner-only casino for my thoughts on the outlook for the Asian...

On the brink

On the brink

by Pierce Chan
Thu 29 May 2025 at 13:27

The transition period for Macau’s 11 satellite casinos is set to expire at the end of this year, after which...

A moral defense of gambling

A moral defense of gambling

by Andrew Russell
Wed 28 May 2025 at 18:19

Economist Andrew Russell explores the differences between community benefit and in-principle arguments for the existence of a legal gambling industry...

Face to face

Face to face

by Ben Blaschke
Wed 28 May 2025 at 18:08

Konami caught the eye at the recent G2E Asia show in Macau with its SYNK Vision Tables, which utilize facial...

Evolution Asia
Aristocrat
GLI
Mindslot
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
Nustar
Jumbo
568Win

Related Posts

Greg Hawkins named Acting COO of Bloomberry and Solaire following Arasi departure

Greg Hawkins takes on permanent role as President and COO of Solaire parent Bloomberry Resorts Corp

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 13 Jun 2025 at 09:31

Bloomberry Resorts Corp, operator of the Philippines’ leading integrated resort brand Solaire, has confirmed the appointment of Greg Hawkins as Director, President and Chief Operating Officer at a board meeting held earlier this week. Hawkins had previously served as Acting...

Inside Thai IRs

Sands China completes full redemption of US$1.63 billion in notes due 2025

by Newsdesk
Fri 13 Jun 2025 at 05:57

Sands China Ltd, the Macau-facing subsidiary of Las Vegas Sands Corp, has completed full redemption of US$1.63 billion in outstanding notes due 2025. In a filing, the company confirmed that the notes were redeemed in full on 11 June and...

NSW state government moves to ban political donations from any clubs offering gambling

Report finds regulation of NSW gaming machines ineffective in supporting harm minimization outcomes

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 13 Jun 2025 at 05:45

A report by the NSW Auditor-General into the regulation of gaming machines has found that efforts by the state’s regulatory bodies to oversee the industry are not supporting harm minimization outcomes effectively. The detailed 47-page report, published Thursday, listed a...

Macau International Airport to expand into Taipa Ferry Terminal as passenger numbers keep rising

Macau to open up aviation market to more airlines in February 2026

by Pierce Chan
Fri 13 Jun 2025 at 04:32

The Macau Legislative Assembly (AL) has completed discussions on a new aviation bill, which is expected to take effect in February 2026. At that time, Macau’s aviation market will become fully open and the exclusive operating system no longer in...



IAG

© 2005-2024
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • NEWSFEED
  • MAG ARTICLES
  • VIDEO
  • OPINION
  • TAGS
  • REGIONAL
  • EVENTS
  • CONSULTING
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • MAGAZINES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE
  • 中文

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • 中文
  • Subscribe
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About
  • Home for G2E Asia

© 2005-2024
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • 中文
  • English