A fiercely fought patent dispute could see G2E Asia moved from Macau to Singapore following events at the show this week.
The argument is between US-based manufacturer Shuffle Master and Macau firm LT Game over a patent relating to multigame technology that the latter claims to own for the Chinese enclave – but, it seems, nowhere else. According to reports, on Wednesday Shuffle Master was asked by customs officials to cover certain machines on its booth. Following this, the company is understood to have presented customs with a court order showing it was permitted to exhibit these products at the show and uncovered them once more. LT Game, however, maintained that these devices infringed its intellectual property rights for its domestic market.
LT Game’s attempts to have Shuffle Master’s products covered prompted the American Gaming Association – which, along with Reed Exhibitions, organises the event – to intervene. The AGA warned that such things should be decided in the courts, not on the trade show floor.
The organisation is planning to make a complaint to the Macau authorities, with AGA president Frank Fahrenkopf quoted by local media as saying the show could move to Singapore if the government chooses to intervene in such matters of litigation. Another company affected by the patent dispute is Slovenia’s Alfastreet, which decided to comply with the Macau patent by not showing its own multigame product. However, the company’s Albert Radman told InterGaming the company may not exhibit at next year’s event if it is held in Macau.
The organisers, he said, were unable to protect its rights to display its products – even when these products are not being sold in this specific market. He said: “What purpose would we have for coming next year if we can’t exhibit our products?”
Radman urged the organisers to find a solution and said he would “strongly recommend” moving the show to Singapore where Marina Bay Sands would provide the “perfect venue.”
