WPT lawsuit

The legal row involving top players and the WPT over image rights has cranked up a notch with the news that the players have filed a motion with the courts in the US.

Seven of the world’s leading professional poker players are seeking summary judgment against the World Poker Tour Enterprises in federal district court in Los Angeles.

In their motion for summary judgment, Chris Ferguson, Andrew Bloch, Annie Duke, Phil Gordon, Joseph Hachem, Howard Lederer, and Greg Raymer have presented undisputed facts which establish that WPTE, which owns the World Poker Tour, has committed multiple violations of federal antitrust laws.

The players, who are all massive figures within the global game, are after a declaration from the Court that WPTE and the casinos which host WPT events have unlawfully conspired to force poker players to sign non-negotiable "releases" that require those players to grant WPTE their image rights.

The seven are more than miffed that their names, likenesses, voices and images are being used at present to promote the WPT without any compensation reaching them.

Headed-up by Howard Lederer, the group of players mean business and have instructed Dewey Ballantine LLP, whose attorneys have successfully represented NFL, NBA, and other players in similar antitrust lawsuits.

The plaintiffs contend that the undisputed facts establish that WPTE and the casinos have agreed to boycott and exclude from WPT events any poker player who does not sign such a "release." The Plaintiffs have also offered undisputed evidence that WPTE and the casinos are conspiring to restrict the number of poker tournaments in competition with the WPT by agreeing that the casinos cannot sponsor any televised non-WPT events.

If the motion is granted, WPTE will be permanently stopped from agreeing with the casinos to require the Plaintiffs and other poker players to sign releases granting WPTE the right to use those players’ intellectual property rights to promote WPTE products and services.

Jeffrey Kessler, lead counsel for the poker players, stated: "If the players prevail in this summary judgment motion, WPTE’s unlawful agreements will come to a quick end without the need for further discovery or a trial."

"All poker players would then be able to compete in WPT tournaments without being forced to give up their valuable intellectual property rights for no compensation and the casinos would be free to sponsor competing televised poker tournaments of their own."