BODOG VS. 1ST TECH DESCENDS FURTHER TOWARD THE GUTTER

7 March 2008

Bitter patent dispute sees PI hirings and rewards for information


The patents infringement dispute between Dr. Scott Lewis of 1st Technologies and Calvin Ayre, founder and chief of the Bodog online gambling group continued to descend gutter-wards over the weekend with more harsh words on Ayre's personal blog, and rewards on offer from Lewis for documents relating to Bodog company relationships.

The Bodog defence against a US default judgement for over $45 million and confiscation of domains obtained by Lewis is that service was made on the wrong corporate entity that had no assets. And since then the title of that company has been changed.

Name-calling and website threats have been a prominent feature of the very public dispute, with Lewis being characterised and ridiculed as a "patent troll" by the apparently furious Bodog chief executive. Recently Ayre's blog implied that there may be skeletons in the Lewis cupboard, and this weekend he revealed that he had hired a private investigator to look into the personal history of the 1st Technologies executive.

Claiming that Lewis had been terminated as an employee by a technical start-up back in 2001, Ayre wrote that this was apparently in connection with "....a conflict of interests that violated his duties with the firm he represented (...in layman's terms this would be called trying to steal)". Ayre threatened to make public other personal details regarding Lewis, presumably emanating from the PI firm that he has hired.

Meanwhile, 1st Technologies lawyers have continued issuing subpoenas to Bodog advertising associates (see previous InfoPowa reports) requiring them to provide documents relevant to their business relationships with Bodog. Ayre has roundly condemned this move, and has opined that there were no grounds for the demands.

This week, 1st Technologies took it up a further gear, advising that "super affiliates" (marketing associates) of Bodog would also be subpoenaed.

This could cause some alarm among successful affiliates who may not wish to be dragged into the public spotlight and lose their privacy. However, Lewis has an alternative, according to a quote he gave to gambling information site 911: "We would like to offer a reward to those supplying us voluntarily, before having to resort to a subpoena, with legally obtained documents, emails, bank account numbers, etc. that involve Bodog Entertainment Group S.A. in relation to online gaming activities, or who have valid claims against Bodog Entertainment Group S.A."

Lewis went on to put a (total) number of $20 000 to the reward.

Ayre remains adamant that 1st Technologies is pursuing the wrong company, writing on his blog: "Patent troll Scott W. Lewis of 1st Technologies will have better luck trying to squeeze blood from a stone once he learns that the Costa Rican company he initially sued for patent infringement has now been forced to change their name and to stop using the Bodog trademarked name.

"The bottom line, Scott? You are not in court with Bodog, dude. So get that through your thick f****** head. Oh… and that company you sued? They never ever ran any websites so there's no way they could have violated a web patent. But what's a technicality like that to a guy who is basically a stuffy, college educated back alley mugger…"

Lewis has reiterated that he is open to negotiate a settlement, but in the absence of such an agreement 1st Technologies will continue to press its claims....and its subpoena strategy.

Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa