Friday 29 Mar 2024
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This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on January 30, 2019

KUALA LUMPUR: Resorts World Las Vegas (RWLV) and Wynn Resorts Holdings LLC jointly announced on Monday that they have reached a settlement agreement on a dispute involving trade dress and copyright infringement claims surrounding the design of the US$4 billion (RM16.45 billion) RWLV project.

RWLV is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Genting Bhd.

“Genting’s RWLV project will be the launching point for the next generation of integrated resorts, and the aesthetics of the project will play an important role in its future success. While the company believes the design to have had differences with Wynn and Encore’s once fully realised, after further consideration and conversations with the Wynn team, we have directed our design team to make several changes that will clearly differentiate the two properties,” said Genting senior vice president of public affairs and development, Michael Levoff, in a statement.

Levoff said the mutually beneficial settlement will allow Genting to continue to develop RWLV with minimal impact to cost and the overall project timeline.

US-based casino operator Wynn had, in December last year, filed a five-count trademark infringement and unfair competition lawsuit against RWLV, claiming similar architectural design in RWLV’s hotel and casino to Wynn Las Vegas, Encore and Wynn Macau.

It was reported that Wynn used a concave facade with curved bronze glass, coupled with horizontal cream-coloured banding above and between the lines of glass panes on its properties in Las Vegas, Macau and Everett, Massachusetts.

As recently as Jan 19, Genting was reported as saying it remained confident of defeating Wynn’s claims against RWLV, with additional evidence to support its case to be presented yesterday.

Following the settlement of the suit, Wynn chief communications officer Michael Weaver said Wynn’s world-renowned signature architecture and design are among the elements that have built its brand’s reputation for excellence.

“RWLV’s initial design had elements which had similarity to our resorts in Las Vegas, Macau and Boston. The new design changes offered by Genting will resolve the concerns we expressed about the similarity of the design.

“We welcome and look forward to RWLV’s opening. Their future success will benefit all of Las Vegas,” Weaver added.

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