WPT Enterprises,
Inc. Prevails against WORLD POKER TOUR(R) Trademark
& Copyright Infringers
Company Vigorously Defends
Marks, Prevents Proliferation of Unauthorized Merchandise
and Programming
WPT Enterprises, Inc., creator of the WORLD POKER
TOUR® television show, has scored numerous intellectual
property litigation victories in recent months,
the company announced today. These victories reflect
WPTE's aggressive posture toward intellectual property
protection against infringers in order to safeguard
and enhance its valuable brands and image.
WPTE General Counsel Adam Pliska said in announcing
the outcomes: "WORLD POKER TOUR is a globally
recognizable brand, and we will aggressively police
the misuse of our intellectual property, to ensure
the quality control of satellite events and products
associated with our first class series of poker
events. WPTE will protect our brands and goodwill
to sustain the loyalty of our poker fans, television
viewers and consumers."
Working closely with its outside counsel, Sheppard,
Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP, and the firm's
Intellectual Property practice group in Southern
California, WPTE has prevailed in IP matters against
a number of defendants, including:
Ultimate Poker Challenge TV Show -- Copyright and
trademark infringement for use of WPTE footage and
for superimposing the Ultimate Poker Challenge mark
over the WORLD POKER TOUR mark.
5thstreet.proboards39.com -- Copyright infringement
of four WPT episodes, posted for "Bit Torrent"
downloads.
Playworldpokertour.net -- Trademark domain name
infringement matter.
WagerLogic Ltd. -- Trademark infringement relating
to four trademark applications filed in Canada (Interpoker
World Poker Tour, Wagerlogic World Poker Tour, Interpoker
World Poker Tournament, and Wagerlogic World Poker
Tournament).
Mid-Ohio Super Satellite No Limit Championship --
Trademark infringement relating to the tournament
being falsely billed as an official WORLD POKER
TOUR satellite tournament.
World Poker Productions, Inc. -- Trademark infringement
for use of a name and a poker-related website, and
in connection with the sale of instructional poker
videos.
Wpt.cl and Worldpokertour.cl -- Trademark domain
name infringement in Chile.
"WPTE has taken action in these cases and secured
agreeable settlements and/or court-ordered injunctive
relief in order to avoid confusion among poker players,
to prevent the proliferation of unauthorized 'knock-off'
merchandise, and to protect against the dilution
of and harm to its valuable copyrighted material,
trademarks and strong brand," noted Robert
S. Gerber, a partner in Sheppard Mullin's Intellectual
Property practice group. "The company stands
ready to pursue anyone, anywhere that attempts to
misrepresent itself as affiliated with WPTE, trade
on its valuable name and goodwill, violate its copyrighted
material or other intellectual property, or otherwise
harm its business interests."
About WPT Enterprises, Inc.
WPT Enterprises, Inc. is a company engaged in the
creation of internationally branded entertainment
and consumer products driven by the development,
production, and marketing of televised programming
based on gaming themes. WPTE is the creator of the
World Poker Tour®, a television show based on
a series of high-stakes poker tournaments that airs
on the Travel Channel in the United States and more
than one hundred markets globally. WPT Enterprises
currently licenses its brand to companies in the
business of poker equipment and instruction, apparel,
publishing, electronic and wireless entertainment,
DVD/home entertainment, casino games, and giftware.
For show information, tools for improving poker
play, and other WPT news, fans may log on to www.worldpokertour.com.
The company is also engaged in the sale of corporate
sponsorships. WPT Enterprises, Inc. is a majority
owned subsidiary of Lakes Entertainment, Inc. . Photos and media information can be found
online at: www.worldpokertour.com.
About Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP is
a full service AmLaw 100 firm with 430 attorneys
in nine offices located throughout California and
in New York and Washington, D.C. The firm's California
offices are located in Los Angeles, San Francisco,
Santa Barbara, Century City, Orange County, Del
Mar Heights and San Diego. Sheppard Mullin provides
legal expertise and counsel to U.S. and international
clients in a wide range of practice areas, including
Antitrust, Corporate and Securities; Entertainment
and Media; Finance and Bankruptcy; Government Contracts;
Intellectual Property; Labor and Employment; Litigation;
Real Estate/Land Use; Tax/Employee Benefits/Trusts
& Estates; and White Collar Defense. The firm
was founded in 1927.
Source: WPT Enterprises, Inc.
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