IGT Sues Bally Technology Over Patent Infringement

RENO -- International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT) announced today that it has filed a lawsuit against Bally Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BYI) and its affiliates Bally Gaming International, Inc. and Bally
  Gaming, Inc. in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. The lawsuit alleges that defendants' "Bally Power Bonusing"(TM) technology, a suite of products recently installed at casinos on the East Coast and in Nevada, and being actively marketed and offered for sale to other casinos, infringes at least nine United States patents held by IGT. The lawsuit further alleges that the infringement has been carried out with full knowledge of the patents and IGT's rights. IGT's lawsuit requests preliminary and permanent injunctive relief, a court declaration of infringement, and monetary damages.

"Although IGT respects and supports true innovation in the gaming technology field, it cannot condone willful infringement by others of IGT's valuable intellectual property. The patents at issue in this lawsuit cover innovations that Bally has chosen to exploit for its own benefit without seeking a license or any other authorization from IGT," said TJ Matthews, IGT's Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer.

Bally is the object of two other patent infringement lawsuits. In 2004, IGT sued Bally for infringing six patents including patents relating to IGT's highly successful bonus wheel gaming machines. IGT is also party to a lawsuit in which Bally is accused of infringing patents relating to optical systems for monitoring table games. Both these cases are pending in the Federal Courts in Nevada.

Additionally, in September, 2004, Bally was found guilty of infringing patents relating to multi-hand poker games such as IGT's highly successful Triple Play Poker® gaming machines. Damages of $7,361,000 plus interest and costs were awarded.

IGT will continue to aggressively prosecute lawsuits against Bally and others who infringe its intellectual property.