Aristocrat and Light & Wonder’s Trade Secrets Battle Escalates
UPDATE: The fierce legal battle between Aristocrat and Light & Wonder (L&W) is escalating, with new claims just announced in a US federal court. Aristocrat accuses L&W of stalling the discovery process as it seeks critical evidence in a dispute over alleged trade secret theft that could reshape the gaming industry.
In a supplemental brief filed in Nevada on August 19, 2023, Aristocrat revealed that documents disclosed during discovery included a potential admission by L&W regarding the use of controversial game math models in an unnamed title. This revelation intensifies an already contentious dispute stemming from Aristocrat’s claims that L&W misappropriated mathematics from its popular Dragon Train series.
Aristocrat argues that L&W’s admission justifies its demand for more time to scrutinize L&W’s development files. With only weeks remaining until discovery closes, Aristocrat asserts that L&W continues to withhold essential materials that could significantly impact the court’s decision. The latest developments suggest that the alleged theft of trade secrets might extend beyond just Dragon Train, potentially involving multiple products from L&W.
The legal landscape has already seen significant consequences: the Nevada court mandated L&W to halt its Dragon Train games in the US. However, in a setback for Aristocrat, the court denied its request for access to L&W’s foundational math models, forcing Aristocrat to rely on the discovery process for evidence, which it claims L&W is obstructing.
Amid these tensions, Aristocrat has raised alarms about missing data, including six terabytes of accounting information related to Dragon Train and incomplete responses to crucial court inquiries regarding the math models employed in the game.
In response, L&W maintains its innocence, asserting that it has not infringed on Aristocrat’s intellectual property and criticizing Aristocrat’s actions as an overreach. This ongoing feud between the two gaming giants is becoming one of the most scrutinized legal battles in the industry, with potential ramifications for proprietary game math and design practices.
As both companies prepare for a prolonged legal confrontation, experts suggest that the case could extend well into the latter half of 2025 before reaching trial. With neither side showing signs of backing down, observers are keenly watching the unfolding drama that could impact not just Aristocrat and L&W, but the broader gaming landscape.
Stay tuned for further updates as the situation develops, as this case continues to captivate the industry and investors alike.
