Both Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars now have a new lawsuit on their hands, this time courtesy of software company Cardroom International. The reasoning behind this latest assault seems to have come as a result of failed television partnerships with some of America’s major broadcast outlets.
“Cardroom,” the company claims, “sought to license its software to major media companies for use on their sports-related sites. Between them, the PokerStars defendants and the Full Tilt defendants entered into agreements whereby they provided such play money services to ESPN/ABC, Fox and NBC. At a meeting with one of the aforementioned networks, the CEO of Cardroom was informed that adoption of his system faced the barrier of the purchase of airtime on the network by PokerStars companies, as the PokerStars companies were tying continued purchase of airtime to use of their software and system on the network’s website.”
When you boil it down, the software provider appears to be upset that the money used in these transactions was illegally obtained from US poker players. They also say, “Though Full Tilt did not directly interfere in the potential transaction between Cardroom and the network, it was due to the joint conspiracy of the PokerStars defendants and the Full Tilt defendants alleged below that both companies achieved their dominant position in on-line poker.”
Cardroom International goes on to further claim to have access to bank accounts held by some of the leading members of Full Tilt and PokerStars, “including Howard Lederer, Ray Bitar, Rafe Furst and Chris Ferguson.”