Wynn settles charges that Resorts World Las Vegas is trying to pirate its iconic design

UPDATE: February 7, 2019: Genting and Wynn Resorts announced in a joint statement last week that they have reached a settlement agreement that will allow the $4 billion Resorts World Las Vegas project to move forward. As part of the agreement, Genting has agreed to alter the design of its exterior.

"While the company believes the design to have had differences with Wynn and Encore's once fully realized, 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 Michael Levoff, senior vice president of public affairs and development for Genting. "This mutually beneficial settlement will allow Genting to continue to develop Resorts World Las Vegas with minimal impact to cost and the overall project timeline."

Wynn said Genting’s design changes have addressed its concerns. "We welcome and look forward to Resorts World Las Vegas’ opening,” said Michael Weaver, Wynn Resorts’ chief communications officer. Their future success will benefit all of Las Vegas."

Dive Brief:

Wynn Resorts Holdings has accused Resorts World Las Vegas of “pirating” the signature design of Wynn hotel casino developments, according to documents filed with the U.S. District Court in Las Vegas. Wynn claims Resorts World, which is owned by Malaysian company Genting Group, is using the “ Wynn Design” on the $4 billion Chinese-themed resort it is building across the street from Wynn’s two Las Vegas Strip properties — the Wynn Las Vegas and Encore hotel casinos.
The Wynn Design, according to the court filing, is characterized by "a three-dimensional building with a concave façade and curved, bronze glass, coupled with horizontal banding above and between the glass panes.” Wynn alleged that despite previous Resorts World hotel casino renderings that reflected a different aesthetic, construction has revealed that the Genting-owned company is trying to find “an unlawful shortcut to trade upon the Wynn Designs’ fame,” by making it look like a Wynn property, right down to the curved glass and horizontal banding.
Wynn argued that there is already confusion as to whether the Resorts World project is a Wynn property because of the emerging look of its exterior and that Wynn’s “five-star reputation,” which is linked with the Wynn Design, will suffer damage if Resorts World is allowed to proceed. In its application for a temporary restraining order, Wynn wants installation and construction of the windows and banding halted and a hearing set for the court to consider a motion for a preliminary injunction.

Dive Insight:

In response to the court action, Genting said in a written statement that it is reviewing the complaint and that it will "strenuously defend the claim and take all necessary legal action, as appropriate.” Genting said it would file its response to Wynn’s motion on or before Jan. 14.

Genting Americas spokesman Michael Levoff reportedly told the Las Vegas Review-Journal in October that the Resorts World project’s planned opening was pushed back from 2016 to 2020 because the company had “spent a considerable amount of time perfecting” the project’s design.

More than a year ago, Genting announced that it had selected local contractor W.A. Richardson Builders to oversee construction of the Resorts World complex. The project will eventually offer up 7,000 hotel rooms, but plans for the first phase include more than 3,300 rooms, a movie theater, a 30,000-square-foot lake, a Chinese garden and a convention center. Gentling is also planning to build a 175,000-square-foot casino on the property and possibly an aquarium, panda exhibit, water park and a Great Wall of China replica.