SHFL Entertainment’s appeal turn away by Macau court

The injunction, filed with the city’s Court of First Instance in October 2012, sought to prevent Paradise Entertainment and its subsidiaries from claiming monopoly rights over multi-game electronic table game products in Macau and to restrain them from any unfair competition. In the decision, the judges said it was not proven that Paradise Entertainment or its subsidiaries had claimed monopoly rights over the multi-gaming system in Macau or that they infringed any rights of SHFL Asia.

The lawsuit named Paradise Entertainment and its units LT Game and Natural Noble  as well as Jay Chun, Paradise Entertainment’s chairman and executive director – collectively the holders of two Macau patents for certain gaming equipment.

The lower court dismissed the injunction in November 2013 and now the Court of Second Instance has confirmed that decision, turning down SHFL Asia’s appeal.

The injunction is part of a dispute dating back to 2009. Mr Chun, LT Game and Natural Noble claim SHFL’s Rapid Baccarat product infringed their patents. SHFL Asia has requested the invalidation of the grant of the patents I/150 and I/380.

In July 2013, the Court of First Instance acquitted SHFL Asia from any wrongdoing, but said it could not decide with certainty whether the components of the Rapid Baccarat product had functions, technical methods and results identical to the ones patented by its rival.

Mr Chun and related companies have appealed against that decision and the lawsuit “is pending”, Paradise Entertainment said in its annual report. In May, Mr Chun confirmed that the case was still ongoing.