Press Releases

In December 1998 Worlds of Games LLC, manufacture of the FREESPIN collectors card vending machines filed suit against Kevin Sharp Enterprises. Inc and Kevin Sharp with respect to the use of "FOUR SPIN PLAY" on some of the Fantasy Phone Card telephone card vending machines manufacture by Kevin Sharp Enterprises. That lawsuit has now been settled; Worlds of Games LLC and Kevin Sharp Enterprises make the following statement.
 
"Worlds of Games LLC, located at 1604 Madison Street , Shelbyville , Tennessee. It owns a federal trademark registration for the Mark FREESPIN for collector's cards. Worlds of Games LLC also claims trademark rights in the mark FREESPIN in connection with promotional play game. Kevin Sharp Enterprises' Fantasy Fone Card machine feature one-spin, two-spin, and four-spin play modes of operation for the promotional game feature associated with it FANTASY FONE CARD machines."

March 1999

   Keith Heflin, Who serves as CEO of Worlds of Games LLC, has announced that in March of 1999 it began an investigation into unauthorized use of the Federal Registered Trade Mark FREESPIN® by a business in Murfreesboro, Tennessee . As a result of that investigation, which has now concluded, Worlds of Games LLC has entered into a settlement agreement for an unspecified amount of damages. This should serve as notice the aggressive manner in which Worlds defends all rights granted against any entity that would violate those rights. Mr. Heflin add, "additional investigations into other business are on going and we expect similar results".
 
February 15, 2001
 
Worlds of Games LLC, was supplied a copy of a letter from Tommy Head the State Representative from the 68th Legislative District to Attorney General Paul Summers thanking him for taking time to visit with Worlds, CEO Keith Heflin regarding the current on going operation of the dispensing systems containg an interactive video game the company manufactures in Shelbyville Tennessee. The letter further states that it is the Chairmans belief the dispensers comply with Title 47, 18 part 1. The Representative also covered a full operational aspect with the AG and request clarification to wheather a video interpretaion of a sweepstakes was allowed under the statute.
 
April 2001

CEO Keith Heflin of Worlds of Games LLC announced today after and unexpected delay on the part of the United States Patent and Trade Mark Office that office has now issue Mr. Heflin a United States Patent (U.S 6,213,874) for the named invention of Collectors Cards/Phone Card Dispensing System with Promotional Game Play Feature. Mr. Heflin also has additional patents and continuations in part pending.
 
Mr. Heflin warns "that as of the issuance date of April 10th, 2001 any systems or device that seem to work in a similar manner will be compared to the claims of the patent and if one or more claims are discovered to be violated swift and appropriate action will be taken to insure all rights granted are protected". He continued, "It is very vindicating to receive this protection. It has been a long time since I first filed the patent application in September of 1997. I look forward to reviewing any systems in the market that may violate any one claim of this patent.
 
April 6th, 2001
 
 Worlds of Games LLC announced today it has recieved a copy of a letter from Rep. Head of the Finace Ways and Means Committies to General Kirby who currently serves as the President of the District Attorney General Conference.  The letter refrenced a response to a request for legal opinion to Attorney General Paul Summers as to the legality of an interactive video game of chance being utilized as a promotional or advertising medium under Title 47 section 18 or the consumer protection act. The letter quotes AG Summers in stating "it appears that presently the requirements of the consumer protection act would apply to any prize distribution as defined therein, including those with "video interpretation" even without amendment to the statutes."
 
The letter continues to quote AG Summers as saying "it appears theoretically possible for a vending/video gaming machine, if in practice and reality, it allows non-purchasers a true and equal operatunity to win a prize, to be operated in compliance with the disclosure and other requirements of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act. In that situation, there would not appear to be any accompanying unfair or deceptive acts of practices" While AG Summers was open to the idea of compliance to the Consumer Protection act he fell short to say it was legal across the board and left wiggle room for any local District Attorney to do what is politically viable by stating in the tail of the letter the "although a prize distribution shceam may complt with the consumer protection act, it may still be unlawful under the criminal code".
 
 *It is intersting to note the departure of the State Attorney General from a position the system manufactured by Worlds of Games were illegal to maybe illegal. It is just such intances as theses we find that local or state authorities fail to understand the concept of using a game of chance as a promotion or advertisement until a memeber of our staff covers the operation in detail.
 
Press Releases

Worlds of Games LLC, announced it has completed the initial investigation into phone card machines offering an interactive video as a method of advertisement. The investigation began after Worlds of Games LLC employees discovered the machine in operation in various truck stops in the State of Virginia. After comparing the operational aspects of the systems in the location it was determined one or more of the claims of the recently issue U.S. 6,213,874 patent were being violated. It is anticipated legal action will begin as early as September 20th 2001.
 
Press Releases

 June 2001

   Today Worlds of Games LLC, CEO Keith Heflin announce it has reached a settlement agreement with CDR Manufacturing a Tennessee based company. The settlement was reached after Worlds of Games LLC had notified CDR of the publication of the U.S. 6,213,874 patent. As a condition of the settlement CDR Manufacturing has volunteering ceased making and supporting the VERY CHERRY SWEEPSTAKES machines in light of the patent issuing.

     Worlds of Games LLC would hope to avoid proceeding with court action against the various locations, operators and entities that have purchased the Very Cherry Machines and may be currently operating the equipment and hope the would follow the example co CDR and contact Worlds of Games to avoid court action. For more information see the press release the in June 2001 issue of Replay Magazine.

     Worlds of Games LLC has been and will continue to monitor the market and found other similar machines and is currently comparing the operation to the claims of the 874 patents.
Press Release
 
July 5th 2001
 
     Worlds of Games LLC received notice that its proposed amendment #1 to House Bill 1688 exempting its systems from the gambling laws was not needed. The bill had been a joint effort between Worlds and the District Attorneys General Conference to clarify the laws regarding such interactive contest.
 
    The notice was issued by several members of the Conference Committee after they were informed by Legal Services that "such activity was currently allowed without the amendment". The Bill had been forced into Committee by lobbiest for the illegal Cherry Master industry in an effort to kill the clarification bill.
 
    CEO Heflin issued a statement which said " I feel this once and again proves to the people of Tennessee and the District Attorneys that the laws as they stand allow for such activity under not only the consumer protection act but the gambling statutes as well. It should also send a clear message to the back room cherry operations that what we offer is not the wink and nod operation they are paying big bucks to lobbiest to protect. " Heflin continued saying "it is my goal to root out every illegal machine in the state".
 
 
Press Releases


November 20th 2001
     
Vend co Business Music & Communications Inc. to be Worlds of Games LLC Sub-Distributor.
 

Worlds of Games LLC and John Newberry of Vendco Business Music & Communications Inc. announced they have reached a settlement agreement for limited license for "Vend-co" to operate as a sub distributor under Worlds of Games LLC united States Patent 6,213,874 which covers the named invention of Collectors Cards Phone Cards Dispensing Systems and promotional play games of FREESPIN® and FREEDRAW®. Under the Agreement Vendco will no longer be operating the VERY CHERRY PHONE CARD machines from its locations in Virginia and will replace them with Worlds of Games LLC FREESPIN® Phone Card Machines.

Press Releases
 
April 2004


CEO Keith Heflin of Worlds of Games LLC announced today after and unexpected delay on the part of the United States Patent and Trademark office was issue a second United States Patent (U.S. 6,722,977) on April 20th, 2004, for the named invention of "Collectors Cards/Phone Card Dispensing System with Promotional Game Piece Feature". Mr. Heflin stated once and again that "any systems or device that seem to work in a similar manner will be compared to the claims of the patent and if one or more claims are discovered to be violated swift action will be taken to insure all rights granted are protected"

Press Releases
 
June 2007

Keith Heflin, who serves a CEO of Worlds of Games LLC, has announced that on June 26th, 2007, after a seven-year examination, the United States Patent and Trade Mark Office has completed the review for a third patent application. This issuance is for the named invention of "Charitable Contribution Station with Promotional Game Piece Feature" and has been issued the Patent Number of (US 7,236,943) and is now under limited license to Worlds of Games LLC.
Press Releases

Worlds of Games LLC, announced it has successfully had its registered trademark FREE SPIN® removed from a major crane manufacturers system that offered an additional opportunity to win. This should once and again demonstrate our wiliness to peruse anyone who would infringe our intellectual property rights.  

Press Releases
 
Worlds of Games LLC, announced it has successfully enforced it patent against non-licensed systems in Alabama. Theses systems will be just the first of its kind to be prosecuted for infringing one or more of the claims of the U.S. Patent 6,213,874 and demonstrate that offering a phone card in the form of a on the site printed ticket or coupon meet the criteria of a collectors card.
 
April 2009

Press Releases

Worlds of Games LLC, announced that it has once again successfully enforced its patent against non-licensed systems in Kansas . These systems offered upon insertion of currency a phone card and offered the purchaser the right to participate in an interactive video game. We at Worlds of Games LLC, urge you review any system that would claim to offer the sale of any type of collector's card, which encompasses all types of pre-paid, and debit style cards. These cards can be plastic, paper, composite, or cash register style cards.

Worlds of Games LLC, has launched an investigation into unlicensed use of the registered trademark FREESPIN®. The mark has been registered to the holder for the express use in promotional contest and games. It has come to our attention that some entities are placing the name on some systems in order to confuse State Officials as to the true manufacturer and origin of the product. It is our policy to enforce all rights granted and to report any systems that are not legal to the appropriate agency and assist in all possible legal means in the prosecution of those devices.
 
Press Release

May 2009
 
  Worlds of Games LLC, has learn through the press of several systems in operation in the Virginia market that would seem, from those reports, to work identical to the method and other claims of the U.S. 6,213,874 patent held by Company CEO, Heflin. "it looks like some of the machines may violate one or more of the claims of any number of the patents I hold" Heflin said. Since there are several different machines and multiple individuals to investigate Worlds has enlisted the assistance of  Attorney Mark Patterson of Waddy and Patterson in Nashville Tennessee to begin review of the systems. Worlds constantly monitors the market for any machine that would may infringe and of the registered trade marks, patents or other intellectual property it holds.
 

While we list the above referenced instances it is not to be limiting or exhaustive of the cases of which we have carried out notices or time lines. Additional information will be post as we retrieve from the archives.