PARLAY ACKNOWLEDGES 1ST TECHNOLOGY PATENTS

5 September 2008

Another major software company toes the 1st Tech line


Canadian online and television bingo software provider Parlay Entertainment Incorporated has become the latest Internet gambling software provider to acknowledge the remote gambling patents of Scott Lewis's company 1st Technology LLC. In an announcement this week, Parlay revealed that it has signed an agreement with 1st Technology to settle an ongoing patent infringement case.

1st Technology brought the action against Parlay, asserting patent rights for technology that enhanced interactivity and optimised the delivery of high quality multimedia information over various bandwidth networks.

1st Tech has consequently filed a Stipulation and Order of Dismissal with the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, and the confidential agreement contains a stipulation whereby neither party admits liability. The arrangement pertains to all of Parlay's direct and indirect software licensing activities up to the date of settlement.

"Given the cost of patent litigation, we determined that it would be a prudent corporate action to negotiate a settlement with 1st Technology,” said Scott White, Chief Executive Officer for Parlay. “We are pleased to have reached an agreement which provides us with certainty.'

In a reciprocal statement, 1st Technology said: "We are pleased to have this dispute with Parlay resolved and look forward to working with other leading companies to assist in achieving compatibility with 1st Technology's intellectual property.”

Several major companies have been approached by 1st Tech in defence of its patents, and have subsequently reached settlements with the company. Perhaps the most public case was 1st Tech's clash with Calvin Ayre's Bodog group, which resulted in a default judgement of $48 million against Bodog and the confiscation of its domains and brands. This triggered protracted and heated public blog exchanges between the CEOs of the two companies.

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