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N EWS BULLETIN Data East names Keenan ... Joseph Keenan is the new president of Data East USA Inc., filling the position last held by Bob Lloyd. Keenan has previously held top executive positions with Atari Corporation, Chuck E. Cheese Pizza Time Theatre, and most recently, Wilkes Bashford Co. "It's exciting to get back into an industry as dynamic as the electronic entertainment business,' he said. 'In the 1980s, Data East established itself as a leader in every segment of interactive entertainment, from coin-op arcade and pinball games to Nin- tendo home video games and home computer software. In the 1990s, we will leverage this strong market appeal and brand recognition. We will continue to build on the momentum." Tetsuo Fukuda, president of Data East Corp. in Tokyo and chairman of Data East USA, said he had considered as many as 20 candidates during the presidential search, which began in September 1989. He and Keenan reached an agreement on March 19. "I believe Joe Keenan is the person who can satisfy my expectations," Fukuda said. "His return to the amusement industry will be very good for our company, as well as for this industry." In other news concerning Data East, executive vice president/general manager Ray Musci has left the company to pursue other interests. He has promised to give us details of his plans in the next issue. Dillon leaves Taito ... Taito America president Joe Dillon abruptly left the company on April 16 for unknown reasons. According to a source at Taito America, "It's my understanding that it was a mutual parting of the ways. Joe must have had something else lined up, because the Japanese usually don't move this quickly. All I know is that as of Monday afternoon (April 16), we were without a president. It certainly came as a surprise." A replacement has not been named, but speculation is that it will be M. Suzuki, the current head of Taito's international sales department. WMS/Acclaim reach deal ... Acclaim Entertainment Inc. has been granted the right of first refusal on WMS Industries Inc. arcade titles for marketing and distribution as Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Game Boy, and Super-Play Handheld electronic video games. The agreement encompasses properties produced by Williams Electronics Games and Midway Manufacturing Co. (manufacturer of Bally/Midway games), both WMS subsidiaries. Also, as part of the transaction, WMS Industries will be given an option to purchase Acclaim common stock. "Since video and arcade properties are a prime source for successful Nintendo titles, this agreement truly benefits both companies," said Acclaim president Robert Holmes. "With our pending acquisition of LJN Toys Ltd .- and the resulting need for five additional Nintendo titles per year for that labelobtaining first right to the fountain of powerful Williams/Bally/Midway properties provides us with an immediate source for potential hits while also expanding WMS Industries' role in the consumer video arena." The first two titles to be offered are NARC and Arch Rivals. racketeering. The indictment stems from allegations that Bell illegally operated video poker machines. Bell vehemently denied the charges, claiming that the whole matter is simply a witch hunt being carried out by Attorney General Mike Moore, because the Chancery Court of Minds County ruled that video card games are not illegal, per se. Since an October 1988 truck stop raid, which turned up illegal pay-offs, Moore has targeted him as an object of intense scrutiny, Bell says. Defense attorney Travis Vance says that Moore broke an agreement with Bell-made after the raid-in which Moore promised not to prosecute if Bell agreed not to operate video poker machines. Vance added that Bell's Music Co. has not operated the machines since October 1988. A hearing was scheduled a few days after we went to press, with the presiding judge set to rule on four motions. One of them went to the heart of whether the indictment itself was valid. Vance claims Moore had no authority to call the grand jury back into special session. "I believe the judge will throw the indictment out," Bell said. "If not, I'll win in court." Seminar dates added ... Star Tech Journal has added seven dates to its list of technical seminars for advancing technicians. The sessions consist of two full days of inside repair tips and hands-on labs. The dates and sites are: June 2-3: Mountain Coin in Las Vegas; June 9-10: Dunis Distributing in Portland, Ore .; June 16-17: First Choice Coin in Denver; June 23-24: H.A. Franz & Co. in Houston; July 14-15: Central Distributing in Omaha, Neb .; July 21-22: Hanson Distributing in Bloomington, Minn .; and Aug. 25-26: Commercial Music in Dallas. Advance registration is $250 per person; there is a 10 percent discount for multiple registrations from the same company. For more information, contact James Calore at Star Tech Journal, P.O. Box 1065, 18 North Centre St., Merchantville, NJ 08109; (609) 662-1080; FAX (609) 662-0537. Arachnid, Merit split in court ... On March 19, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, a judgment was issued in favor of Arachnid Inc. on a civil action against Merit Industries Inc. for patent infringement. But Merit prevailed on the issue of target segment infringements. Judge Robert F. Kelly held that Merit infringed on Arachnid's "781 Dual Microcomputer" patent; the jury also granted Arachnid $60,000 in monetary damages. "Arachnid feels strongly about the wisdom of the patent system to encourage invention and spending on development," said Arachnid president Bill Ward. "The company is solidly committed to defending its intellectual property rights. I don't think any more or any less of Merit. They just made a mistake." Merit will appeal the decision on the grounds that it is contrary to law. According to Bernie Powers, Merit's director of marketing, Merit was entitled to rely in good faith on the patent of IDEA, the company which held the "781" patent before it was awarded to Arachnid. Powers says Merit had long since three to four such titles on an annual basis. stopped using the licensed product and introduced its own electronic system when Arachnid got the patent from IDEA. On the claim regarding target segments used by Merit in its early Bull Buster games in 1985, the jury decided in favor dual controls. cases, has always prevailed regarding target segments," Powers said. "The current decision finally puts the matter to restMerit has never built nor sold games with infringing segments." Bell indicted ... John Bell, president of the Mississippi Coin Operators Association and owner of Bell's Music Co. Inc. in Vicksburg, has been indicted and charged with 11 counts of United Amusements closes ... The relationship between Los Angeles-based distributor United Amusements and NEC Home Electronics (USA) has come to an end, a move Acclaim officials say they are considering two additional WMS Industries titles for release this year; they expect to release In other news concerning Williams, the company's video follow-up to NARC-Smash TV-will begin production in early May. This interactive game features, among other things, unique of Merit, ruling that there was no infringement. "Merit, in previous May 1990/PLAY METER 3