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NEWS BULLETIN AMOA MAKES MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT The news that everyone has been waiting for is finally here. The National Amusement Network Inc. (NANil, a new entity established by AMOA and TVphone Inc., has reached a 10-year agreement with Electronic Data Systems Corp. CEDSl to link thousands of game terminals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The goal of this strategic relationship is to "accelerate and expand the development and implementation of a nationwide, interactive digital multimedia network." Beginning with a two-state pilot, the network will link more than 10,000 game terminals throughout the three countries. The relationship gives the industry the advanced technology it needs to bring games into the 21st century. Businesses will be able to expand their scope to include networked games and multimedia terminals that allow players to compete in tournaments on local, regional, and national levels. The network will also mean improved management efficiency, decreased maintenance expenditures, and a potentially larger customer base. Canadian-based TVphone owns patents and other intellectual property, including the specifications for electronic games of skill. NANI, owned by AMOA and TVphone, was created to manage the interactive network's business activities. Ross Perot's EDS has operations in over 30 countries and employs some 70,000 people. It's the global leader in applying information technology to meet the needs of business and government. "This agreement is a major step forward for our industry," said Craig Johnson, president of NANI and immediate past president of AMOA. "More and more, what's driving our industry is the need for technological excellence and innovation, coupled with old-fashioned, unwavering dedication to customer service and satisfaction. "EDS has earned a world-class reputation for partnering with its customers and helping them achieve their business objectives through applying information technology. This agreement strengthens our industry's ability to deliver on all counts." Bill Graf, vice president of entertainment and messaging, Media Division, EDS Communications Industry Group, said: "Through this alliance, EDS will provide NANI with the enhanced computing, communications, and systems-engineering capabilities that will augment AMOA's strong market penetration and enable it to play a significant role in the emerging multimedia arena." AMOA members own an estimated one million game terminals throughout North America. Upgrading, converting, and networking the present equipment to multimedia provides EDS with a commercial distribution network at the consumer level. Look for more information on this project-via an onsite report from EDS's Dallas headquarters-just before the beginning of our ACME section (after page 66l. DATA EAST PREVAILS IN CAPCOM LITIGATION On March 16, a California district judge denied Capcom USA's motion for a preliminary injunction to enjoin Data East USA's marketing and distribution of the video game Fighter's History, as well as any newer versions of it. Capcom claimed that Fighter's History infringed its audio visual copyright for the Street Fighter II family of games. The company also alleged that Data East had copied the "total concept and feel" of Street Fighter II and certain fight characters and special moves. But Judge William Orrick of the Federal District court in the Northern District of California held that "Data East has not captured in Fighter's History the total concept and feel of the protectable expression in Street Fighter II. Rather, the similarities that result between the two games stem from Data East's emulation of the unprotectable, commonplace features of Street Fight er II, such as its stereotypical fight characters and its reliance on unoriginal fighting techniques derived from the martial arts." ' Orrick added that Capcom "cannot now withdraw from the public domain ideas and standardized expression. To do so would be commensurate to awarding Capcom a monopoly over a range of characters and moves that it did not create. It would also allow Capcom to lay proprietary claim to all reality-based fight games featuring human characters. Copyright law affords no such protection." Data East president Tetsuo Fukuda said, "We have always believed that Capcom's allegations of infringement had no legal or factual merit, and the court's ruling has vindicated our position. Data East believes Capcom was attempting to obtain a monopoly over all one-on-one fighting games. The court's ruling ensures that healthy competition may continue in this industry." Play Meter contacted Capcom for a response but didn't receive one before going to press. • MORE LEGAL NEWS Midway Mfg. Co. has obtained a preliminary injunction in U.S. Federal District Court in Albany, N.Y. , against Testron Koin Kits Inc. and Stephen Hochman. The injunction order, based upon allegations of federal copyright and trademark infringement, prohibits the advertising or sale of enhancement kits containing copies of Midway's Mortal Kombat. The kits were being sold by mail under the name Mortal Kombo Kombat. Midway now seeks monet ary damages from Testron-i.e., all profits made from the sale of enhancement kits-and the names of all Testron customers. The company will require those who bought the Testron enhancement kits to return them. NEW HEADQUARTERS FOR BROMLEY Bromley Inc. has moved its corporate headquarters to 6 Bridlewood Road, Northbrook, IL 60062. The telephone and FAX numbers are (708) 509-0240 and (708) 509-0242. Bromley Sales, on the other hand, remains in the same location: 136 Forest Ave. , Lake Zurich, IL 60047. In other news concerning Bromley, the company has appointed Joe Bundra to the position of vice president of sales. "Joe has been with us from the beginning, successfully marketing our prodw;;ts and serving our clients," said president Lauran Bromley. "This is a welldeserved promotion." Bromley Inc. debuted the redemption game Dino Rally at ACME. It will ship before summer. ACME DRAWS OVER 8,000 TO CHICAGO Just under 8,400 people attended this year's American Coin Machine Exposition, held in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont on March 17-19. Though about 200 fewer people came to the expo in comparison to last year, many exhibitors reported that it was a better buying show. As one exhibitor put it, "The number that's important is how many people come to your booth and buy product. In that respect it was a very good show for us." We'll have more comments, along with game listings, side stories, photographs, etc., in the previously mentioned ACME special section. PLAY METER 1 APRIL 1994