Empire Technological Group v. Light & Wonder: Gaming Patent Dispute Ends in Dismissal
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📋 Case Summary
| Case Name | Empire Technological Group Limited v. Light & Wonder, Inc. et al. |
| Case Number | 2:22-cv-00923 (Nev. Dist. Court) |
| Court | U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada |
| Duration | June 2022 – July 2024 2 years 1 month |
| Outcome | Dismissed with Prejudice |
| Patents at Issue | |
| Accused Products | I-Score Plus, I-Score Ultra, i-Table |
Case Overview
The Parties
⚖️ Plaintiff
Developer and supplier of electronic gaming display products under brands like Smrt Choice™, Smrt Trend Board™, and Smrt Trend Wall™.
🛡️ Defendant
Major publicly traded gaming technology company and its subsidiary (now LNW Gaming, Inc.) designing and supplying gaming systems globally.
The Patent at Issue
This case involved U.S. Patent No. US11341807B2, covering technology applicable to electronic gaming tables and display panels. The patent relates to display and interface systems used in table game environments — a growing segment of casino floor technology that integrates digital scoreboards, trend boards, and player-facing displays into traditional table games. It was registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
- • US11341807B2 — Electronic gaming tables and display panel technology.
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The Verdict & Legal Analysis
Outcome
The case terminated via stipulated dismissal with prejudice under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(ii). Both parties jointly requested the dismissal, indicating a private resolution. No damages amount was publicly disclosed, and no injunctive relief was awarded or denied through court order. This outcome closes Case No. 2:22-cv-00923 after more than two years of litigation.
Key Legal Issues
The infringement action proceeded through the district court without producing a public merits ruling. The dismissal with prejudice operates as a final adjudication, barring Empire from re-filing the same infringement claims against Light & Wonder on the same patent. The absence of a public Markman (claim construction) ruling means the claim scope of US11341807B2 remains judicially undefined from this case — preserving flexibility for future assertion or licensing negotiations by Empire.
Freedom to Operate (FTO) Analysis
This case highlights critical IP risks in electronic gaming display technology. Choose your next step:
📋 Understand This Case’s Impact
Learn about the specific risks and implications from this litigation in gaming tech.
- View related patents in electronic gaming display space
- See which companies are most active in gaming display patents
- Understand claim construction patterns for gaming interfaces
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High Risk Area
Electronic gaming table display systems
1 Patent at Issue
US11341807B2 & related applications
Strategic Design-Arounds
Possible for display and interface claims
✅ Key Takeaways
Stipulated dismissal with prejudice under FRCP 41(a)(1)(A)(ii) forecloses re-assertion against the same defendants — negotiate terms carefully before stipulating.
Search related case law →Counter-claim leverage (invalidity, non-infringement) is an effective settlement accelerator even when ultimately withdrawn.
Explore precedents →Nevada is a strategically viable venue for gaming technology patent disputes given industry nexus.
Analyze venue statistics →Frequently Asked Questions
U.S. Patent No. US11341807B2 (Application No. US16/918428), covering technology applicable to electronic gaming tables and display panels.
Both parties jointly stipulated to dismissal under FRCP 41(a)(1)(A)(ii), indicating a private resolution. Specific terms were not publicly disclosed.
The dismissal without a merits ruling leaves US11341807B2’s validity intact and claim scope judicially undefined, preserving Empire’s ability to assert the patent against other parties in the gaming display sector.
FTO analysis in gaming technology involves searching and analyzing existing patents, like US11341807B2, to ensure that a new product or design (e.g., electronic gaming table, display system) can be commercialized without infringing valid intellectual property rights of others.
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References
- United States District Court, District of Nevada — Case 2:22-cv-00923
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office — US11341807B2
- Cornell Legal Information Institute — Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(ii)
- PatSnap — IP Intelligence Solutions for Gaming Industry
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. All case information is drawn from publicly available court records. For platform capabilities, visit PatSnap.