Bandai Namco AtGames Lawsuit Dismissed

Published: November 4, 2020 2:43 PM /

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Bandai Namco AtGames Lawsuit cover

A Bandai Namco AtGames lawsuit has been dismissed a little over a year after it was first filed, once again allowing AtGames to produce retro consoles featuring Pac-Man games.

AtGames is one of the many companies around the world that produces standalone retro consoles with built-in games. Unfortunately, it got into a bit of a sticky situation with its Blast! line of products, a portion of which featured Pac-Man games. Now, a press release from AtGames says that the matter has been dismissed, although this might not be the end of the battle.

Bandai Namco AtGames Lawsuit slice

The Bandai Namco AtGames Lawsuit, Summarized

The initial filing for the Bandai Namco AtGames lawsuit listed seven complaints and requested a jury trial. Trademark and copyright infringement, counterfeiting, and false advertisement were listed among the complaints, citing both state and federal laws. It also cites multiple failed licensing agreements between Bandai Namco and other parties for both Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man.

Going by the initial filing, it appears that Bandai Namco alleges AtGames produced the Pac-Man Blast! products without an appropriate licensing agreement in place. This led to a lawsuit that lasted over a year, but it has since come to a somewhat unceremonious end.

Why Was the Bandi Namco AtGames Lawsuit Dismissed?

An order of dismissal was issued by United States District Judge Vince Chhabria on October 27, 2020, for Case No. 19-cv-05898-VC. In it, Judge Chhabria states that all involved parties have resolved the case of their own accord, rendering all of the legal claims made by Bandai Namco a moot point. This means that the Bandai Namco AtGames lawsuit has likely concluded with an undisclosed settlement of some kind.

However, the case was dismissed without prejudice; this means that all involved parties can reopen the case within 60 days of the dismissal order being issued. This legal battle is likely over, but the door is open for it to possibly continue should something in the settlement agreement go awry.

What do you think of the Bandai Namco AtGames lawsuit? Are you interested in these retro consoles or do you prefer to play these games on modern systems? Let us know in the comments below!

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A photograph of TechRaptor Senior Writer Robert N. Adams.
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One of my earliest memories is playing Super Mario Bros. on the Nintendo Entertainment System. I've had a controller in my hand since I was 4 and I… More about Robert N