Riviera files copyright infringement suit

Friday, March 7, 2003 | 9:58 a.m.

The company that operates the Riviera hotel-casino has filed a copyright and trademark infringement suit against the owners of the bankrupt Aladdin hotel-casino.

A suit filed in U.S. District Court in Nevada by Riviera Operating Corp. Inc. took a detour through U.S. Bankruptcy Court, which had to determine whether claims detailed in the suit preceded the bankruptcy filing.

Bradley Booke, an attorney for the Riviera, said Thursday the action would return to U.S. District Judge Roger Hunt, and both sides agreed that any judgments involving payments would have to be reviewed by the Bankruptcy Court.

The case stems from the Aladdin's February 2001 hiring of Christine Gigante, the vice president of gaming marketing at the Riviera.

In 2002 Gigante developed slot machine promotions at the Aladdin similar to those she established at the Riviera, the suit said. According to the suit, the Riviera says Aladdin's promotion to give players $75 in slot play for a $25 investment violated the copyright of Riviera's "$40 for $20" promotion.

The complaint also says the Aladdin's "Release the Genie" promotion infringed on the copyright of the Riviera's "Quick Pick 7" program.