ELECTRONIC POKER FIRMS IN PATENT TUSSLE

7 March 2008

Pokertek and Lightning Poker set to duke it out in court


The growing popularity and earnings potential of automated, or electronic poker tables has triggered a clash over patents by the two leading suppliers.

North Carolina's electronic poker table company, PokerTek, Inc. which claims to be the industry pioneer and worldwide leader in automated poker tables and related software, says in a statement this week that it believes the allegations outlined in Lightning Poker's patent announcement are without merit.

PokerTek believes that its products do not violate the Lightning Poker patent that forms the basis of a recently launched lawsuit, or that the patent is invalid, or both. And the company has served notive that it intends to vigorously defend itself.

PokerTek claims it has more than 40 published patent applications, and will carefully examine how best to utilise those assets in responding to Lightning Poker's lawsuit.

"After consulting with our attorneys, we believe this suit is without merit," said Chris Halligan, PokerTek CEO. "This is not the first time Lightning Poker has sued us. Its last lawsuit was unsuccessful, and we will work to ensure a similar outcome here. We remain focused on growing our business and extending our lead in the marketplace."

PokerTek, which is traded on Nasdaq, announced that it had 189 PokerPro tables installed worldwide at the close of its fourth quarter and is widely acknowledged as the leader in the automated poker market.

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