--·--
The House subcommittee that oversees U.S. Customs enforcement heard testi-
mony from industry officials August 2 on the impact of piracy on the domestic video
game industry. Representatives of the Amusement Game Manufacturers Association
told the subcommittee that illegal copies comprise 30 percent of the games on
location in the United States today. It asked that Customs tighten its procedures by
stopping all imported. video games, parts, and printed circuit boards for examination
and seizing illegal copies instead of simply turning them back to the importers.
--·--
Ron Markis of Games Galore, the major distributor of Entertainment
Enterprises' Reno Games video card game, says the game-under attack from Digital
Controls for infringing Little Casino's copyrights-will no longer be marketed.
Ent ertainment Enterprises will produce a ((completely reprogrammed" color card
game called Mini Vegas in place of Reno Games. Markis said he agreed to stop
selling Reno Games when he was informed Digital Controls expanded its
infringement suit against Entertainment Enterprises to include Markis and an Idaho
operator, Tri-State Digital Amusement. Digital Controls President Mike Macke said
Markis' decision to stop selling Reno Games is not sufficient to end the case against
him. Digital Controls will pr~ss for damages, Macke said.
--·--
Stan Harris & Company of Philadelphia has ·embarked on its seventh annual
Ntuscular Distrophy Association campaign. Sharon Harris, who serves on the
executive board of the MDA southeastern Pennsylvania chapter, directs the
company's collection drive. The contribution._-i s made in conjunction with area 7-
Eieven stores.
·'
.
--·--
Paul Jacobs has returned to Exidy as executive vice president. jacobs had
directed the firm's marketing effort from 1976 to 1978. After working at Exidy, Jacobs
served as president of Universal USA, opening an American office for the Tokyo-
based.firm. Jacobs had been recently associated with Game Plan Inc. of Addison,
Illinois. Now 38, Jacobs has worked on the distributing and manufacturing levels of
the: industry for 20 years.
·
·
--·--
Claiming a Ro.ckaway Township, New Jersey, zoning ordinance ((arbitrarily
denies and unreasonably curtails" the right of Prime Tirtle Playhouses Inc. ((to engage
in a lawful business," the company has filed suit in a New Jersey Superior Court.
Carmen Lunetta, attorney for Prime Time, said a zoning ordinance could not be used
to legislate a legal activity out of business. The proposed 90-game arcade is to be.
located in a large shopping mall.. ((lfyou can't have an arcade there, you can't have
one anyvxhere," Lunetta complain.ed. ·
214
PLAY METER. October 1. 1983