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Attorneys for Plaintiff IGT
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IGT,
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Plaintiff,
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v.
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ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.,
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Defendant.
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Plaintiff IGT brings this complaint for patent infringement and declaratory judgment against
Defendant Aristocrat Technologies, Inc. (Aristocrat) and alleges as follows:
NATURE OF THE ACTION
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1.
This is an action for patent infringement arising under the patent laws of the United
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6,932,701.
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IGT also seeks a declaratory judgment pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 2201 that the doctrine
of assignor estoppel bars Aristocrat from challenging the validity of U.S. Patent Nos. 6,375,570;
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PARTIES
4.
Plaintiff IGT is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of
Nevada, with a principal place of business located at 6355 South Buffalo Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada
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89113. IGT is a world leader in gaming entertainment and a leading supplier of casino and lottery
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5.
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the laws of the State of Nevada, with a principal place of business located at 7230 Amigo Street, Las
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Vegas, Nevada 89119. Aristocrat sells, leases, and/or operates gaming machines in the casino and
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This action arises under the Patent Laws of the United States, 35 U.S.C. 101 et seq.,
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including 35 U.S.C. 271. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28
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7.
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Nevada and maintains substantial, continuous and systematic contacts in Nevada. Aristocrat has
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thus purposefully availed itself of the benefits and protections of Nevadas laws such that it should
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reasonably anticipate being haled into court here. Aristocrat regularly transacts business within
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Nevada including the sale, lease, and/or operation of gaming machines in Nevada.
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8.
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FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Plaintiff IGT is the owner, by assignment, of all rights, title and interest in U.S. Patent
No. 7,131,908 (the 908 Patent). The 908 Patent issued on November 7, 2006. A true and correct
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Plaintiff IGT is the owner, by assignment, of all rights, title and interest in U.S. Patent
No. 7,513,827 (the 827 Patent). The 827 Patent issued on April 7, 2009. A true and correct
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Plaintiff IGT is the owner, by assignment, of all rights, title and interest in U.S. Patent
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No. 6,394,902 (the 902 Patent). The 902 Patent issued on May 28, 2002. A true and correct
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Plaintiff IGT is the owner, by assignment, of all rights, title and interest in U.S. Patent
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No. 7,384,334 (the 334 Patent). The 334 Patent issued on June 10, 2008. A true and correct
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Plaintiff IGT is the owner, by assignment, of all rights, title and interest in U.S. Patent
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No. 8,753,189 (the 189 Patent). The 189 Patent issued on June 17, 2014. A true and correct
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Plaintiff IGT is the owner, by assignment, of all rights, title and interest in U.S. Patent
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No. D503,951 (the 951 Patent). The 951 Patent issued on April 12, 2005. A true and correct
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Plaintiff IGT is the owner, by assignment, of all rights, title and interest in U.S. Patent
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No. 6,375,570 (the 570 Patent). The 570 Patent issued on April 23, 2002. A true and correct
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Plaintiff IGT is the owner, by assignment, of all rights, title and interest in U.S. Patent
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No. 6,702,675 (the 675 Patent). The 675 Patent issued on March 9, 2004. A true and correct
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Plaintiff IGT is the owner, by assignment, of all rights, title and interest in U.S. Patent
No. 7,303,469 (the 469 Patent). The 469 Patent issued on December 4, 2007. A true and correct
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Plaintiff IGT is the owner, by assignment, of all rights, title and interest in U.S. Patent
No. 6,932,701 (the 701 Patent). The 701 Patent issued on August 23, 2005. A true and correct
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Joe Kaminkow is a named inventor on the 570 Patent, the 675 Patent, the 469
Kaminkow worked at IGT from 1999 to 2012. As IGTs Vice President of Game
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Design, Kaminkow led the development of several successful slot machines for IGT including SEX
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In the course of performing his duties at IGT, Kaminkow obtained patents on several
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important innovations in the field of electronic gaming machines. Among these patents are the 570
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Patent, the 675 Patent, the 469 Patent, and the 701 Patent. Kaminkow assigned all rights, title,
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and interest in these patents to IGT in exchange for valuable consideration, including salary,
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Upon information and belief, Aristocrat called Kaminkow the same night he resigned
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from IGT to discuss the possibility of employing him. Upon information and belief, Kaminkow had
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lunch with Aristocrat CEO Jamie Odell the next week. See Howard Stutz, Nevadan at Work:
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Veteran Game Designer is Always Creating, Las Vegas Review-Journal (Nov. 2, 2013), available at
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http://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/nevadan-work-veteran-game-designer-
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always-creating.
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Kaminkow joined Aristocrat in early 2013 immediately after the one-year non-
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compete clause in his employment agreement with IGT expired. Kaminkow currently serves as
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Aristocrats Senior Vice President of Game Development. See News Release, Legendary Game
http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/legendary-game-developer-joins-aristocrat-asx-all-
1761483.htm.
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Upon information and belief, Kaminkow has been heavily involved in the
development and design of slot machines Aristocrat has released since Kaminkow joined the
company in 2013. The first sentence of a March 2014 article in the publication Casino Enterprise
Management confirms the centrality of Kaminkows role: Walk into Aristocrat Technologies game
development lair, and its clear this is Joe Kaminkows territory. Marian Green, Joe Kaminkow
Cultivates Slot Game Creativity, Casino Enterprise Management (Mar. 3, 2014), available at
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http://www.casinoenterprisemanagement.com/articles/march-2014/joe-kaminkow-cultivates-slot-
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game-creativity.
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Upon information and belief, Aristocrat debuted several of the slot machines
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Kaminkow designed at the Global Gaming Expo (popularly known as G2E) in Las Vegas in
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September 2013. One such slot machine is the BATMAN CLASSIC TV SERIES game. Aristocrat
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CEO Jamie Odell told Global Gaming Business Magazine that the BATMAN game is Joes great
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product and that Aristocrat wouldnt normally have made that sort of game without Kaminkow.
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Q&A with Jamie Odell, Global Gaming Business Magazine (Sept. 25, 2014), available at
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http://ggbmagazine.com/issue/vol-13-no-10-october-2014/article/q-a-with-jamie-odell. Aristocrats
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Vice President of Marketing told the video publication This Week in Gaming that Kaminkow
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designed the BATMAN game. Batman 1966 Slot Machine from Aristocrat Technologies, This
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Aristocrats Vice President of Gaming Operations described the BATMAN game as a coming-out
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party for Joe Kaminkow. Frank Legato, Aristocrat Technologies: Aiming High, Global Gaming
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Vice President of Gaming Operations called the BATMAN game the beginning of a new era for
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Aristocrat and said it was very special having Kaminkow bring his skills to Aristocrat, and in
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particular to [the BATMAN game]. Video, Behind-the-Scenes Look at Batman Classic TV Series
Kaminkow himself discusses the bonus wheels on the BATMAN game and refers to himself as the
king of wheels having made more wheel games probably than anybody. Id.
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Upon information and belief, Kaminkow owns a vintage Batmobile like the one used
in the 1960s television series on which the BATMAN slot machine is based. Aristocrat displayed
Kaminkows Batmobile alongside the BATMAN game at G2E 2013. Howard Stutz, Nevadan at
Work: Veteran Game Designer is Always Creating, Las Vegas Review-Journal (Nov. 2, 2013),
available at http://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/nevadan-work-veteran-game-
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designer-always-creating; Video, Frank Fantini Signs Off from G2E 2013 in Joe Kaminkows
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Aristocrat has released several other slot machines in addition to the BATMAN
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CLASSIC TV SERIES game since Kaminkow joined the company. These slot machines include
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SUPERMAN THE MOVIE, TARZAN OF THE APES, THE ROLLING STONES, THE
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WALKING DEAD, and FLASHDANCE. Upon information and belief, Kaminkow has had
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significant involvement in the design and development of these games. See Howard Stutz, Nevadan
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at Work: Veteran Game Designer is Always Creating, Las Vegas Review-Journal (Nov. 2, 2013),
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available at http://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/nevadan-work-veteran-game-
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Flashdance, Tarzan, The Rolling Stones, Superman, and Batman.); Frank Legato,
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Aristocrat Technologies: Aiming High, Global Gaming Business Magazine (Aug. 27, 2013),
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available at http://ggbmagazine.com/issue/vol-12-no-9-september-2013/article/aristocrat-
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Aristocrat already had [Flashdance] in development before we brought Joe Kaminkow in . . . but
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COUNT I
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IGT repeats and realleges each of the assertions set forth in Paragraphs 1 through 28
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Upon information and belief, Aristocrats manufacture, use, offer to sell, and sale of
above.
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at least the following gaming machines infringes at least one claim of the 908 Patent: BATMAN
CLASSIC TV SERIES, THE WALKING DEAD, THE ROLLING STONES, TARZAN OF THE
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IGT is entitled to recover from Aristocrat the damages sustained by IGT as a result of
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Aristocrats wrongful acts in an amount subject to proof at trial, including lost profits and an amount
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not less than a reasonable royalty, together with interest and costs as fixed by this Court under 35
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U.S.C. 284.
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The infringement by Aristocrat of the 908 Patent will continue to cause IGT
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irreparable injury and damage for which there is no adequate remedy at law unless and until
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COUNT II
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IGT repeats and realleges each of the assertions set forth in Paragraphs 1 through 28
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Upon information and belief, Aristocrats manufacture, use, offer to sell, and sale of
above.
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at least the following gaming machines infringes at least one claim of the 827 Patent: BATMAN
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CLASSIC TV SERIES, THE WALKING DEAD, SUPERMAN THE MOVIE, and FLASHDANCE.
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IGT is entitled to recover from Aristocrat the damages sustained by IGT as a result of
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Aristocrats wrongful acts in an amount subject to proof at trial, including lost profits and an amount
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not less than a reasonable royalty, together with interest and costs as fixed by this Court under 35
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U.S.C. 284.
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irreparable injury and damage for which there is no adequate remedy at law unless and until
COUNT III
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IGT repeats and realleges each of the assertions set forth in Paragraphs 1 through 28
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Upon information and belief, Aristocrats manufacture, use, offer to sell, and sale of
above.
The infringement by Aristocrat of the 827 Patent will continue to cause IGT
at least the following gaming machines infringes at least one claim of the 902 Patent: BATMAN
CLASSIC TV SERIES.
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IGT is entitled to recover from Aristocrat the damages sustained by IGT as a result of
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Aristocrats wrongful acts in an amount subject to proof at trial, including lost profits and an amount
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not less than a reasonable royalty, together with interest and costs as fixed by this Court under 35
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U.S.C. 284.
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The infringement by Aristocrat of the 902 Patent will continue to cause IGT
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irreparable injury and damage for which there is no adequate remedy at law unless and until
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COUNT IV
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IGT repeats and realleges each of the assertions set forth in Paragraphs 1 through 28
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Upon information and belief, Aristocrats manufacture, use, offer to sell, and sale of
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at least the following gaming machines infringes at least one claim of the 334 Patent: BATMAN
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IGT is entitled to recover from Aristocrat the damages sustained by IGT as a result of
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Aristocrats wrongful acts in an amount subject to proof at trial, including lost profits and an amount
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not less than a reasonable royalty, together with interest and costs as fixed by this Court under 35
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U.S.C. 284.
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irreparable injury and damage for which there is no adequate remedy at law unless and until
COUNT V
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IGT repeats and realleges each of the assertions set forth in Paragraphs 1 through 28
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Upon information and belief, Aristocrats manufacture, use, offer to sell, and sale of
above.
The infringement by Aristocrat of the 334 Patent will continue to cause IGT
at least the following gaming machines infringes at least one claim of the 189 Patent: BATMAN
CLASSIC TV SERIES, SUPERMAN THE MOVIE, and TARZAN OF THE APES.
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IGT is entitled to recover from Aristocrat the damages sustained by IGT as a result of
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Aristocrats wrongful acts in an amount subject to proof at trial, including lost profits and an amount
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not less than a reasonable royalty, together with interest and costs as fixed by this Court under 35
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U.S.C. 284.
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The infringement by Aristocrat of the 189 Patent will continue to cause IGT
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irreparable injury and damage for which there is no adequate remedy at law unless and until
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COUNT VI
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IGT repeats and realleges each of the assertions set forth in Paragraphs 1 through 28
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Upon information and belief, Aristocrats manufacture, use, offer to sell, and sale of
above.
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at least the following gaming machines infringes at least one claim of the 951 Patent: BATMAN
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IGT is entitled to recover from Aristocrat the damages sustained by IGT as a result of
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Aristocrats wrongful acts in an amount subject to proof at trial, including Aristocrats profits,
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together with interest and costs as fixed by this Court under 35 U.S.C. 289.
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irreparable injury and damage for which there is no adequate remedy at law unless and until
COUNT VII
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IGT repeats and realleges each of the assertions set forth in Paragraphs 1 through 28
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Upon information and belief, Aristocrats manufacture, use, offer to sell, and sale of
above.
The infringement by Aristocrat of the 951 Patent will continue to cause IGT
at least the following gaming machines infringes at least one claim of the 570 Patent: BATMAN
CLASSIC TV SERIES and THE ROLLING STONES.
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IGT is entitled to recover from Aristocrat the damages sustained by IGT as a result of
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Aristocrats wrongful acts in an amount subject to proof at trial, including lost profits and an amount
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not less than a reasonable royalty, together with interest and costs as fixed by this Court under 35
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U.S.C. 284.
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The infringement by Aristocrat of the 570 Patent will continue to cause IGT
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irreparable injury and damage for which there is no adequate remedy at law unless and until
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COUNT VIII
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IGT repeats and realleges each of the assertions set forth in Paragraphs 1 through 28
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Joe Kaminkow is a named inventor on the 570 Patent. His name was added to the
above.
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list of inventors by a Certificate of Correction issued on July 8, 2003. Kaminkow assigned all of his
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rights, title, and interest in the 570 Patent to IGT in exchange for valuable consideration.
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Having received valuable consideration for his assignment of the 570 Patent,
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the company is in privity with Kaminkow. Upon information and belief, Kaminkow had extensive
involvement in the design and development of games that infringe the 570 Patent.
Aristocrat is also estopped from challenging the validity of the 570 Patent because
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IGT will suffer immediate and real harm if Aristocrat is permitted to challenge the
validity of the 570 Patent. This action therefore represents a live case or controversy and warrants
COUNT IX
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IGT repeats and realleges each of the assertions set forth in Paragraphs 1 through 28
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Upon information and belief, Aristocrats manufacture, use, offer to sell, and sale of
above.
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at least the following gaming machines infringes at least one claim of the 675 Patent: BATMAN
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CLASSIC TV SERIES, SUPERMAN THE MOVIE, THE WALKING DEAD, THE ROLLING
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IGT is entitled to recover from Aristocrat the damages sustained by IGT as a result of
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Aristocrats wrongful acts in an amount subject to proof at trial, including lost profits and an amount
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not less than a reasonable royalty, together with interest and costs as fixed by this Court under 35
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U.S.C. 284.
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The infringement by Aristocrat of the 675 Patent will continue to cause IGT
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irreparable injury and damage for which there is no adequate remedy at law unless and until
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COUNT X
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IGT repeats and realleges each of the assertions set forth in Paragraphs 1 through 28
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Joe Kaminkow is a named inventor on the 675 Patent. Kaminkow assigned all of his
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rights, title, and interest in the 675 Patent to IGT in exchange for valuable consideration.
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Aristocrat is also estopped from challenging the validity of the 675 Patent because
the company is in privity with Kaminkow. Upon information and belief, Kaminkow had extensive
involvement in the design and development of games that infringe the 675 Patent.
Having received valuable consideration for his assignment of the 675 Patent,
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IGT will suffer immediate and real harm if Aristocrat is permitted to challenge the
validity of the 675 Patent. This action therefore represents a live case or controversy and warrants
COUNT XI
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IGT repeats and realleges each of the assertions set forth in Paragraphs 1 through 28
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Upon information and belief, Aristocrats manufacture, use, offer to sell, and sale of
above.
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at least the following gaming machines infringes at least one claim of the 469 Patent: SUPERMAN
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IGT is entitled to recover from Aristocrat the damages sustained by IGT as a result of
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Aristocrats wrongful acts in an amount subject to proof at trial, including lost profits and an amount
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not less than a reasonable royalty, together with interest and costs as fixed by this Court under 35
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U.S.C. 284.
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The infringement by Aristocrat of the 469 Patent will continue to cause IGT
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irreparable injury and damage for which there is no adequate remedy at law unless and until
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COUNT XII
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IGT repeats and realleges each of the assertions set forth in Paragraphs 1 through 28
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Joe Kaminkow is the named inventor on the 469 Patent. Kaminkow assigned all of
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his rights, title, and interest in the 469 Patent to IGT in exchange for valuable consideration.
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Aristocrat is also estopped from challenging the validity of the 469 Patent because
the company is in privity with Kaminkow. Upon information and belief, Kaminkow had extensive
involvement in the design and development of games that infringe the 469 Patent.
Having received valuable consideration for his assignment of the 469 Patent,
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IGT will suffer immediate and real harm if Aristocrat is permitted to challenge the
validity of the 469 Patent. This action therefore represents a live case or controversy and warrants
COUNT XIII
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IGT repeats and realleges each of the assertions set forth in Paragraphs 1 through 28
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Upon information and belief, Aristocrats manufacture, use, offer to sell, and sale of
above.
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at least the following gaming machines infringes at least one claim of the 701 Patent: BATMAN
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IGT is entitled to recover from Aristocrat the damages sustained by IGT as a result of
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Aristocrats wrongful acts in an amount subject to proof at trial, including lost profits and an amount
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not less than a reasonable royalty, together with interest and costs as fixed by this Court under 35
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U.S.C. 284.
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The infringement by Aristocrat of the 701 Patent will continue to cause IGT
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irreparable injury and damage for which there is no adequate remedy at law unless and until
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COUNT XIV
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IGT repeats and realleges each of the assertions set forth in Paragraphs 1 through 28
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Joe Kaminkow is a named inventor on the 701 Patent. Kaminkow assigned all of his
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rights, title, and interest in the 701 Patent to IGT in exchange for valuable consideration.
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Having received valuable consideration for his assignment of the 701 Patent,
Aristocrat is also estopped from challenging the validity of the 701 Patent because
the company is in privity with Kaminkow. Upon information and belief, Kaminkow had extensive
involvement in the design and development of games that infringe the 701 Patent.
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IGT will suffer immediate and real harm if Aristocrat is permitted to challenge the
validity of the 701 Patent. This action therefore represents a live case or controversy and warrants
REQUESTED RELIEF
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A.
The entry of judgment that Aristocrat has infringed one or more claims of the 908,
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827, 902, 334, 189, 951, 570, 675, 469, and/or 701 Patents literally and/or under the doctrine
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of equivalents;
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B.
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Aristocrat and its agents, servants, officers, directors, employees, affiliated entities, and all persons
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in active concert or participation with them from continued infringement of the 908, 827, 902,
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C.
A declaration that the doctrine of assignor estoppel bars Aristocrat from challenging
the validity of the 570 Patent, the 675 Patent, the 469 Patent, and/or the 701 Patent;
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infringement of the 908, 827, 902, 334, 189, 951, 570, 675, 469, and/or 701 Patents;
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An award to IGT equal to any profits that Aristocrat gained from its infringement of
the 908, 827, 902, 334, 189, 951, 570, 675, 469, and/or 701 Patents;
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F.
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G.
A post-verdict and post-judgment account for any infringement of the 908, 827,
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902, 334, 189, 951, 570, 675, 469, and/or 701 Patents not otherwise covered by a damages
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H.
Any such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper under the
circumstances.
DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
Pursuant to Rule 38(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, IGT respectfully requests a
trial by jury of any and all issues on which a trial by jury is available under applicable law.
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