Aristocrat Technologies has secured a legal victory against rival Light & Wonder by obtaining a preliminary injunction regarding the misappropriation of trade secrets associated with Light & Wonder’s “Dragon Train” game.
On September 23rd, 2024, Judge Gloria M. Navarro of the United States District Court for the District of Nevada ruled in favor of Aristocrat in the ongoing lawsuit, affirming the company’s claims of intellectual property infringement. The court has prohibited Light & Wonder from engaging in “any continued or planned sale, leasing, or other commercialization of Dragon Train.”
The court determined that Aristocrat is “extremely likely to succeed” in proving that Light & Wonder misappropriated its trade secrets during the development of “Dragon Train”.
The ruling highlighted that Light & Wonder gained an unfair advantage by utilizing confidential information associated with Aristocrat’s leading games, Dragon Link and Lightning Link, enabling them to create “Dragon Train” without incurring equivalent time and financial investments. The court emphasized the importance of protecting trade secrets and preventing unfair competition.
Matthew Primmer, Chief Product Officer of Aristocrat, expressed satisfaction with the ruling, stating, “We are extremely pleased with the court’s decision. 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.”
Aristocrat plans to advance its case against Light & Wonder in the United States, seeking appropriate remedies for the harm caused by Light & Wonder’s actions.
Additionally, earlier this year, the Federal Court of Australia granted Aristocrat pre-suit discovery against Light & Wonder, and the company is exploring its legal options in Australia.
Meanwhile, in response, Light & Wonder stated, “We respectfully disagree with the judge’s decision and will promptly file an appeal…. We will continue to vigorously defend against Aristocrat’s claims.”
The company reaffirmed its 2025 target of $1.4 billion in consolidated AEBITDA, which refers to adjusted earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation, and amortization.
Light & Wonder noted that its “pre-ruling estimate” for 2025 consolidated AEBITDA for “Dragon Train” was less than 5 percent of the $1.4 billion target.
Matt Wilson, president and chief executive of Light & Wonder, remarked, “We expect our strong growth trajectory to continue, notwithstanding this decision.”
