A settlement has been reached between Elaut and US suppliers S&B Entertainment and St Louis Game Company in the legal dispute over colour-changing LEDs in crane machines.
The Belgian company, in company with its US subsidiary Elaut USA, had brought the action against S&B and St Louis Game, claiming that the two defendant companies infringed the Elaut patent through the sale of certain crane machines. Part of the settlement was the granting of a licence to S&B and St Louis Game to use the patent for the full line of their linked colour-changing cranes. This will apply to Neon World (pictured), Ticket World, Prize Rocket, Duck World, Carnival Crane and Route 66.
Eric Verstraeten, managing director of the Belgium-based company, said: “The settlement of this lawsuit is good for both parties. We are pleased to extend the use of our technology to S&B. It has been long established with almost three decades of high quality crane production and is well known in the amusement industry for its innovation.”
S&B was recently recognised as Innovator of the Year by the Amusement and Music Operators’ Association.
He added: “S&B Entertainment clearly recognises the value of this technology and acknowledges that Elaut devoted considerable resources to bring this revolutionary feature to the marketplace.”
Glenn Kramer, CEO of Elaut USA, said: “Elaut will continue to vigorously protect its intellectual property and will not hesitate to file suit against any party that infringes that patent or any other Elaut patent or trademark.”
Brian Riggles, principal and CEO of S&B Entertainment and St. Louis Game Company commented: “We have full respect for the intellectual property of other manufactures and devote considerable energy in protecting our own patents. Together with Elaut we will identify potential infringments so we can protect our licence and build on this unique technology for the next generation of cranes. We are very pleased to have amicably resolved this matter with Elaut and to have been licensed under the patent. We believe that colour-changing LEDs enhance our machines and the player’s experience.”