Global gaming giant Aristocrat Leisure Ltd has sought and been awarded orders by Australia’s Federal Court preventing its head of game design from using files he is alleged to have downloaded from the company’s servers.
As reported by The Sydney Morning Herald, Dinh Toan “Tony” Tran – who is listed as Principal Director of Game Design, Executive Producer and Head of Design & Development – is alleged to have downloaded 6,800 files at 7am on a Sunday morning in early December.
It remains unclear why Tran downloaded the files or whether he intends to defend against the allegations.
However, during court proceedings last week, Counsel for John Hennessy SC revealed Tran’s western Sydney property had been searched with various electronic devices seized and searched by an independent lawyer.
“There was the relevant USB … that was the focus of the investigation and then there were five other USBs,” Hennessy said, according to The SMH.
Tran has been ordered not to use or disclose any of the downloaded files or any other confidential or copyright materials in his possession. He is also prohibited from destroying any materials while the independent lawyer and independent computer experts examine his devices.
A further hearing has been scheduled for February.
Tran’s LinkedIn profile says he has worked for Aristocrat since 2008 and oversees 42 members of design and development teams in Sydney and India. He also claims to be responsible for a number of hit games, including “Choy’s Kingdom”, Asian-facing Jin Cai Hao Yun, “Dancing Foo” and “Prosperity Pig”.
