Line drawn under Hills-32Red case
Casino operator anticipates receiving £1.1m in legal costs in addition to six-figure damages awarded in April
32Red chief executive Ed Ware has expressed his pleasure at a “successful” resolution of 32Red’s four-year copyright dispute with William Hill after a costs order totalling more than £1m was made.
Hills has made an interim payment of £800,000 with regards to its 32Vegas site, since renamed 21Nova, and 32Red said in a statement it expects the total costs to reach approximately £1.1m plus interest. This is in addition to the £150,000 in damages awarded to the Gibraltar-licensed operator in April.
“Today’s costs award marks the end of four years litigation that has seen all of 32Red’s trade marks validated in the High Court and the removal of an infringing site from the market,” Ware said.
“The 32Vegas brand was damaging to our business and litigation was the only available solution. We are pleased that this situation has been successfully resolved and the 32Red brand and Group strategy has been protected.”
The dispute between the two operators dates back to August 2009, when 32Red sued Hills for alleged trademark infringement over the 32Vegas site. The High Court of Justice in London found in favour of 32Red in January 2011, with an injunction the following month preventing Hills from using the 32Vegas trademark anywhere in the EU.