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FROM THE EDITOR FROM Is It A Win-Win Situation? Situation? T T wassubstantial). substantial). Few Fewoperators operatorshave havebeen beenwilling willingto tofight fightfor for heindustry industrylooked lookedon onininfeigned feignedsurprise surprisewhen whenoperator operator was he what they believe in. Although it is regrettable that so much of Red Baron in Ohio filed his lawsuit Bill Beckham Bill Beckham of Red Baron in Ohio filed his lawsuit what they believe in. Although it is regrettable that so much moneywas wasspent spenton onthis, this, it's it'seven evenmore moreregrettable regrettablethat thatititripped againstthe theAmerican AmericanAmusement AmusementMachine MachineManufacManufac- money ripped against gash through through the the industry industrythat that will will take taketime timetotoheal. heal. turers Association Association (AAMA) (AAMA) and and one one of ofits its members, members, Taito Taito of of aa gash turers The question now has got to be: What happens next? we America. The suit covered a broad range of charges, but the America. The suit covered a broad range of charges, but the The question now has got to be: What happens next? IfIfwe onethat that operators operatorscheered cheered concerned concerned the the legality legality of ofmanufacmanufac- only only look look atat the the narrow narrow application application of ofthis this decision, decision, itit could could one United States while offerturers selling dedicated games in the seriously affect the industry as a whole. Admittedly , it is a giant turers selling dedicated games in the United States while offer- seriously affect the industry as a whole. Admittedly, it is a giant ing them as kits everywhere else. leap toward untangling the complicated legal issues surrounding them as kits everywhere else. leap toward untangling the complicated legal issues surroundBoth defendants defendants reacted reacted defensively defensively and and quickly quickly labeled labeled ing ingoperator operatorversus versusmanufacturer manufacturerrights rightstotobuy buyand andsell sellgames. games. Both Beckham as a trouble-maker. Beckham, meanwhile, forged Operators don't object to buying dedicated games as much as Beckham as a trouble-maker. Beckham, meanwhile, forged Operators don't object to buying dedicated games as much as ahead believing that he was doing the right thing . they resent not being offered the same choices operators in other ahead believing that he was doing the right thing. they resent not being offered the same choices operators in other Operators rallied ralliedtotohis hissupport supportwhile whilemanufacturers manufacturersbooed booed Operators his efforts, claiming that only the lawyers were benefiting from his efforts, claiming that only the lawyers were benefiting from having a civil war within the industry . Despite the amount of having a civil war within the industry. Despite the amount of money that AAMA was spending on FBI agents' efforts to conmoney that AAMA was spending on FBI agents' efforts to convinceoperators operatorsthat thatparallel parallelboards boardswere wereillegal, illegal, manufacturers manufacturers vince dwelled on the fact that the lawsuit was costing them toomuch much dwelled on the fact that the lawsuit was costing them too money to defend themselves. Of course, they firmly believed money to defend themselves. Of course, they firmly believed thatjustice justice would would be be theirs. theirs. that Just before the court date , both both sides sides agreed agreed that that the the issue issue Just before the court date, of parallel boards was the core of the suit and decided to let of parallel boards was the core of the suit and decided to let a judge make a ruling on that one issue. All other charges and a judge make a ruling on that one issue. All other charges and countersuits were were dropped dropped and and the the industry industry held held its itsbreath breath for for countersuits the final ruling . On August 31 , that ruling was handed down the final ruling. On August 31, that ruling was handed down by aajudge judgein in Virginia. Virginia. Parallel Parallel boards boards were were legal. legal. CoincidenCoincidenby tally , the decision reached manufacturers the same day theyhad had tally, the decision reached manufacturers the same day they gathered in Chicago for a membership meeting. gathered in Chicago for a membership meeting. wasaashock shocktotomany manyand andreactions reactionswere wereharsh. harsh. And Andthough though ItItwas that would naturally be expected, most were looking down the that would naturally be expected, most were looking down the road to what the impact could be. While AAMA enforcement road to what the impact could be. While AAMA enforcement efforts were were somewhat somewhat deceptive deceptive in in lumping lumping parallels parallels with with efforts counterfeit games, and insinuating that operators would be counterfeit games, and insinuating that operators would be severely punished for using them, the intentions were aimed severely punished for using them, the intentions were aimed moretoward toward copied copied games gamesand andheading headingoff offaapotential potentialproblem. problem. more Manufacturers are right in using all means possible halt Manufacturers are right in using all means possible totohalt the proliferation of copied games. Any operator who would the proliferation of copied games. Any operator who would knowingly operate operate them them should should be be punished punished to to the the fullest fullest exexknowingly of the law. However, the smoke screen created with parallel tent tent of the law. However, the smoke screen created with parallel boards may may come come back back to to haunt. haunt. boards While AAMA planned worthwhile industryprojects projectsand andproproWhile AAMA planned worthwhile industry moted Bob Fay to executive vice president to implement them moted Bob Fay to executive vice president to implement them,, somemembers membersdid didnot notlook lookbeyond beyondthe thecostly costlyenforcement enforcementefefsome forts that seemed to be helping a few members. forts that seemed to be helping a few members. Bill Beckham Beckham went went out out on on aa limb limb alone. alone. ItIt was was his his decision decision Bill to continue, regardless of the personal financial loss (which to continue, regardless of the personal financial loss (which 12 PLAY PLAY METER/October METER/October 1988 1988 12 countriesare are offered. offered. countries willbe bedisastrous, disastrous,but butaafact factof oflife, thatunscrupulous unscrupulous sellers sellers ItItwill life, that will be all too happy to take advantage of unwary operators ready will be all too happy to take advantage of unwary operators ready to buy. Keep in mind that many of those games offered will to buy. Keep in mind that many of those games offered will likely be copied, counterfeit games; not parallels. Time and likely be copied, counterfeit games; not parallels. Time and again I have heard from manufacturers that there are not as many again I have heard from manufacturers that there are not as many parallelgames gamesasasititseems. seems.One Onemanufacturer manufacturereven evensuggested suggested parallel of circulation buying his own parallel games to keep them out buying his own parallel games to keep them out of circulation. . Guesswhat? what?There Thereweren't weren'tany anytotobebehad. had .But Butthere therewere wereplenplenGuess ty of counterfeit ones. ty of counterfeit ones. Operators, this thisisisaaspecial specialplea pleatotoyou. you. Don't Don'tbuy buyany anyboards boards Operators, unless you know beyond a shadow of a doubt what you are buyunless you know beyond a shadow of a doubt what you are buying. Manufacturers may have given you the benefit of the doubt ing. Manufacturers may have given you the benefit of the doubt youclaimed claimedyou you"just ''justdidn't didn 'tknow," know ,''but butIIwouldn't wouldn' texpect expect ififyou that same courtesy forever. This is one of the most emotional, that same courtesy forever. This is one of the most emotional, controversialissues issuesthe theindustry industryhas hasendured, endured,but butitithas hasendured. endured. controversial Just because this ruling seems a victory for operators, don' t Just because this ruling seems a victory for operators, don't think that it's safe to buy any board offered to you. Check out think that it's safe to buy any board offered to you. Check out the company-thoroughly-before investing your hard-earned the company-thoroughly-before investing your hard-earned dollars . dollars. Valeria Coquenich Valeria Cognevich Cognevich Valeria Editor Editor