News

FutureLogic challenges Transact Technologies' patent allowance

April 5, 2005

GLENDALE, Calif.  FutureLogic Inc., manufacturer of thermal ticket printers for cashless gaming, has announced in a news release that it is challenging allowance of a patent application by Transact Technologies. The application, according to the release, covers various patent-pending features of FutureLogic's GEN2 promotional printer. FutureLogic's original patent application filing on the GEN2 promotional printer, submitted in March 2002, discloses promotional printer communications, database storage, and coupon triggering in a cashless game. The pending patent application incorporates broad claims related to a dual-port technology that allows the printer to communicate simultaneously with both the gaming system and the gaming machine. This technology enables simultaneous printing of both vouchers and promotional coupons with a single device. Transact did not disclose FutureLogic's pending patent applications or other related gaming technologies before obtaining an allowance of Transact's patent application. "Before allowing some claims in Transact's patent application, the USPTO was not given the opportunity to consider the true chronology of the development of dual port printing of coupons and vouchers within the gaming industry," said Anthony DiMarco, president and chief executive officer of FutureLogic. "As our pending patent applications have earlier effective filing dates than Transact's patent application, we fully expect to be the senior party in any future proceedings before the USPTO."