An appeal by Nova Productions against a judgement in the UK's High Court last January has been dismissed by the Court of Appeal.
The Court also ordered that Nova should pay costs of the appeal and refused the company leave to appeal to the House of Lords.
During the trial, Nova claimed copyright infringement of its Pocket Money SWP game by Bell-Fruit Games in its Trick Shot AWP and Mazooma in its Jackpot Pool SWP supplied to Gamestec and Inspired Gaming for use on the Gamestec and itbox terminals.
The Court of Appeal said: "It is important that copyright is forbidden to intervene to stifle the creation of works that are different, as the games are here." It also said that had Nova’s claim been successful "copyright would become an instrument of oppression rather than an incentive for creation."
Bell-Fruit managing director John Austin said: "We were never in doubt that the appeal would be dismissed and I will be glad to put it behind us."
