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Thursday, April 18, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Patent Fight Over Electronic Trading Cards

DALLAS (CN) - A Texas holding company claims in court that a Hasbro subsidiary violated its electronic trading-card patent by publishing "Magic: The Gathering Online."

Wildcat Intellectual Property Holdings, of Dallas, sued Wizards of the Coast in Federal Court.

Wizards is a subsidiary of Hasbro, which is not a party to the case.

"Magic Online," launched in 2002, is a video game version of Wizards' popular "Magic: The Gathering" trading card game. Magic Online uses a virtual economy rather than physical trading cards.

Wildcat claims Magic Online infringes on at least seven aspects of its Electronic Trading Card patent.

"Infringements by Wizards include, without limitation, making, using, selling, hosting, and/or providing access to within the United States, and/or importing into the United States, at least Wizards' 'Magic: The Gathering Online' game, infringing one or more claims of the '216 Patent," the complaint states.

"Wizards knew or should have known that the 'Magic: The Gathering Online' game would induce infringement by its customers."

Wildcat says it uses the patent on "Unit Commander," its own game, which it calls "the ultimate mercenary trading card game."

Wizards, based in Renton, Wash., also published the popular "Dungeons & Dragons" role-playing game and "Pokemon Trading Card Game."

Wildcat seeks injunctive relief to stop the alleged infringing activity.

It is represented by Darrell Dotson with Stevens Love of Longview.

Follow @davejourno
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