Talisman Groups Files Lawsuit against DEQ-USA Incorporated Regarding the EZ Baccarat System

A lawsuit has been filed in a dispute between two organizations involved in selling baccarat systems to casino facilities. Lawyers for the Talisman Group LLC of Las Vegas filed a lawsuit on December 5th, 2009 in a federal court against DEQ Systems Corporation of Quebec, Canada and subsidiary DEQ-USA Incorporated of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Talisman stated in its lawsuit that it owns the method of playing baccarat that "discards the payment of commission" characteristic of the game. This has described as a way of speeding up game play. Talisman said that it has adopted and has been utilizing the EZ Baccarat and Dragon 7 (TM) in connection with the game.

The Dragon 7 system involves a side wager. The lawsuit said that DEQ-USA owns a US patent claiming a method of playing the game of baccarat that also discards the payment of commission. Talisman said that in 2006, it agreed with DEQ-USA to jointly market the EZ Baccarat system and divide the earnings.

The lawsuit alleged that without the knowledge or approval of Talisman, DEQ Systems filed trademark applications for registration of the EZ Baccarat trademark in different jurisdictions including in Canada and the US. The lawsuit also charges that DEQ Systems also filed trademark applications for the Dragon 7(TM) in numerous jurisdictions including Macau. Talisman said that it has demanded that the defendants take immediate action concerning the system.

The lawsuit charges that although the defendants acknowledged the rights of Talisman in the EZ Baccarat and Dragon 7 and agreed to take immediate action to correct the issue, they have failed to do so. Instead, the defendants are planning to hold the EZ Baccarat system hostage to receive concessions from Talisman.

The lawsuit also claims that the defendants have tried to register the EZ Baccarat word and design trademarks by fraudulent means and that DEQ System are practicing unfair competition. The lawsuit, filed by the lawyers with the Las Vegas office of Lewis and Roca LLP, seeks a decision that Talisman owns the EZ Baccarat and Dragon 7 trademarks all over the world and unspecified damaged.

A lawyer for the defendants declined to comment on the issue, saying that settlement discussions were already underway. Las Vegas lawyer Steve Gibson said that both parties are trying to resolve the issue amicably. DEQ, which also sells casino table game bonusing, jackpot and loyalty products, has said in marketing the EZ Baccarat system that it is fully equipped with EZ Trak, an LCD-based hand tracking system.

DEQ has said in marketing the products that the EZ Baccarat methodology and the Dragon 7(TM) bet were co-created by Robin Powell and TJ Tejeda of the Talisman Group in conjunction with DEQ.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Danny McCain