3/31/2005
WOW! - Bally Pins Are Coming Back
In a landmark deal with Williams, Wayne Gillard - Mr Pinball Australia - has purchased the intellectual properties and the rights to re-manufacture former Bally/Williams games.
In addition, he also has bought the right to manufacture new games using his company's new hardware system under the Bally brand.
The purchase includes close to 100 different patents as well as ownership of the domains and existing technical content for pinball.com, pin2000.com and pinball2000.com websites to add to the wmspinball.com site he already owns.
Also, effective 12th October 2005, he has the rights to remanufacture original Bally/Williams parts.
The deal means Wayne now owns the original source code to Williams/Bally games and the rights to re-manufacture them and any future games under the Bally brand. The Williams name cannot be used as it is still in use by WMS but access to the source code means any Williams branded game could be manufactured and sold as a game by Wayne's company instead, and all original Bally games can be sold under the Bally name.
Wayne told Pinball News the new hardware and software system he is using for his upcoming games will use original WMS parts and part numbers, which will ensure both familiarity of operation and a continued supply for older games. To this end, the pinball.com site will be revamped to include an e-commerce section listing available parts and allowing buyers from around the world to purchase them direct.
Although an earlier deal granted Illinois Pin Ball the exclusive rights to re-manufacture Williams parts, that contract expires on 12th October 2005 at which point it becomes non-exclusive and Wayne will also have those rights. His purchase includes many CAD files and drawings of parts along with associated documentation and bills of materials. IPB retain the tooling they acquired and 21 unique patents for game assemblies.
The right to use the trademarks is a perpetual licence but the websites and patents have been bought outright by Wayne. He has lots more ideas for the pinball.com site including the return of Ask Uncle Willy in a forum where questions can be asked and answered by the experts.
The purchase raises a lot of questions and even more possibilities, and Pinball News will keep you updated with Wayne's plans and his progress
In addition, he also has bought the right to manufacture new games using his company's new hardware system under the Bally brand.
The purchase includes close to 100 different patents as well as ownership of the domains and existing technical content for pinball.com, pin2000.com and pinball2000.com websites to add to the wmspinball.com site he already owns.
Also, effective 12th October 2005, he has the rights to remanufacture original Bally/Williams parts.
The deal means Wayne now owns the original source code to Williams/Bally games and the rights to re-manufacture them and any future games under the Bally brand. The Williams name cannot be used as it is still in use by WMS but access to the source code means any Williams branded game could be manufactured and sold as a game by Wayne's company instead, and all original Bally games can be sold under the Bally name.
Wayne told Pinball News the new hardware and software system he is using for his upcoming games will use original WMS parts and part numbers, which will ensure both familiarity of operation and a continued supply for older games. To this end, the pinball.com site will be revamped to include an e-commerce section listing available parts and allowing buyers from around the world to purchase them direct.
Although an earlier deal granted Illinois Pin Ball the exclusive rights to re-manufacture Williams parts, that contract expires on 12th October 2005 at which point it becomes non-exclusive and Wayne will also have those rights. His purchase includes many CAD files and drawings of parts along with associated documentation and bills of materials. IPB retain the tooling they acquired and 21 unique patents for game assemblies.
The right to use the trademarks is a perpetual licence but the websites and patents have been bought outright by Wayne. He has lots more ideas for the pinball.com site including the return of Ask Uncle Willy in a forum where questions can be asked and answered by the experts.
The purchase raises a lot of questions and even more possibilities, and Pinball News will keep you updated with Wayne's plans and his progress
