Ainsworth signs US$6.5m patent deal with Aristocrat
The agreement settles potential claims arising from past patent use and includes a mutual commitment not to challenge the licensed patents.
Australia.- Ainsworth Game Technology has entered into a patent licensing deal with Aristocrat for selected gaming and responsible gambling technologies in Australia. Under the agreement, effective immediately, Ainsworth receives a non-exclusive licence to use Aristocrat’s Australian gameplay patents, including the Hold & Spin patent family, across its branded electronic gaming machines and online and mobile games. The licence also covers manufacturing, servicing, upgrades and conversions carried out through third parties.
Ainsworth will also have royalty-free access to Aristocrat’s Australian responsible gambling patents. These include technologies covering digital wallets, account-based play, player limits, self-exclusion, player messaging and AI-based risk detection. The deal includes pass-through rights for Ainsworth’s customers, distributors and venues, allowing them to use, operate, service and resell covered units.
As part of the settlement, the companies have waived potential claims arising from past use of the licensed patents and agreed not to challenge them. Ainsworth has also granted Aristocrat a non-exclusive licence covering its patents for Aristocrat-branded products in Australia.
Ainsworth will pay Aristocrat A$8.5m (US$6.5m) in instalments over the agreement’s three-and-a-half-year term. Other commercial terms have not been disclosed.
