In a recent turn of events, DraftKings emerged victorious in a federal case in 2022, leaving Beteiro with no choice but to appeal to the Federal Circuit. The New Jersey District Court’s judgment, delivered by Judge Christine O’Hearn, labeled the patents in question as nothing more than a “set of generic computer components.”
The court remained unmoved by Beteiro’s argument regarding the inclusion of GPS technology in mobile phones back in 2002. Judge O’Hearn dismissed the notion that GPS on a mobile device was anything out of the ordinary, stating, “Nowhere does the specification describe any difference between how GPS would be equipped on a mobile phone and how it would be equipped on any of the other described conventional computers.”
Moreover, the Federal Circuit firmly rejected Beteiro’s claim that the patents were linked to any sort of technological advancement. According to the court, the issue of remote gambling not being prevalent in 2002 did not qualify as a technical problem, and the utilization of technology developed by others did not constitute a solution.
In their defense, Appellees highlighted that the patents did not offer any innovative solutions, arguing that remote gambling was not a new concept even in 2002. They asserted, “the issue of remote gambling being uncommon in 2002 was not a technical problem, nor do the Asserted Claims’ invocation of technology developed by others constitute a solution.”
With DraftKings securing a triumph in the initial federal case, the spotlight now shifts to the Federal Circuit as Beteiro seeks to overturn the ruling. The outcome of this appeal will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for the gaming technology sector. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
