Studio Feud.Hollywood has a longstanding tradition of fiercely protecting its intellectual properties, and one studio has taken its IP wars in a new direction. Universal Studios Inc. is suing the Via-com-owned amusement park amusement park, a commercially operated park offering various forms of entertainment, such as arcade games, carousels, roller coasters, and performers, as well as food, drink, and souvenirs. company Paramount Parks Paramount Parks was an operator of theme parks and attractions, which annually attracted about 13 million patrons. Viacom had assumed control of the company as part of its acquisition of Paramount Pictures in 1994. and the Las Vegas Hilton The Las Vegas Hilton is a hotel, casino, and convention center in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is a joint venture between Colony Capital, which owns 60 percent, and New York City-based REIT Whitehall Street Real Estate Funds, which owns the remaining 40 percent. over an interactive adventure ride called "Star Trek: The Experience." Universal isn't protesting the rights to the popular "Star Trek" franchise, which Paramount squarely owns, or the interactive ride's creative content. Instead it's crying foul on a patent infringement patent infringement n. the manufacture and/or use of an invention or improvement for which someone else owns a patent issued by the government, without obtaining permission of the owner of the patent by contract, license or waiver. for the two-year-old, $70 million simulator ride's base technology. Universal claims that it has a 1993 patent on the domed projection screen and the audience's moving vehicle used by the popular ride -- which, by the way, can accommodate 800 visitors an hour and costs $16 per person. The complaint was recently filed in Los Angeles federal court, and none of the involved parties are talking about the case. |
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