A special master in the Northern District of Georgia has weighed in on the ongoing intellectual property dispute between New York-based sports tech company Vetnos LLC and its Atlanta-based rival, PrizePicks. The professional recommendation released to the court suggests that attempts to dismiss the patent infringement and trade secret claims lodged by Vetnos LLC should not be entertained.
The legal row centres on allegations made by Vetnos, regarding PrizePicks’s possible infringement on both patents and trade secrets. Despite the pushback from the Atlanta-based company, the direction indicated by the special master now sets the court’s stance on the trajectory of these claims, in favor of the New York company. The full proceedings and major arguments put forth in the dispute can be further examined in ‘Special Master Suggests Denying Bid To Toss Gaming IP Row’ on Law360 here.
The development stands as a significant point in this case, and going forward, could establish a firm precedent regarding intellectual property rights within the burgeoning sports tech industry. As companies continue to innovate and produce new technologies in this sector, the adjudications on cases such as these could greatly influence firms’ strategies in managing their intellectual assets.
This case serves as a reminder for corporate counsel, particularly within tech companies, to vigilantly safeguard their intellectual properties and to deploy best practices in relation to patent rights and trade secrets.