UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 --------------------- FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 25, 2002 (January 23, 2002) HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) DELAWARE 1-10410 62-1411755 (State or other jurisdiction (Commission (I.R.S. Employer of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.) ONE HARRAH'S COURT LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 89119 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) (702) 407-6000 ---------------------------------------------------- (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) ---------------------------------------------------- (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS On January 23, 2002, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. issued a press release, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99(1) and incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS (c) Exhibits 99(1) Text of press release, dated January 23, 2002, of the Registrant.
SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC. Date: January 25, 2002 By: /s/ Brad L. Kerby ----------------------------------- Name: Brad L. Kerby Title: Vice President, Corporate Counsel, and Secretary
EXHIBIT 99(1)
Harrah's Entertainment Receives Injunction Against Stratosphere
For Marketing Patent Infringement
LAS VEGAS, January 23, 2002 - Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:HET)
announced today that an injunction was entered by the U.S. District Court in
Nevada prohibiting Stratosphere Corporation and others from infringing on one of
Harrah's marketing patents.
Harrah's and its Harrah's Operating Company, Inc. subsidiary had filed a
lawsuit against Stratosphere last April alleging that Stratosphere was operating
a promotion that infringed on the Harrah's patent.
The court affirmed a consent agreement between Harrah's and Stratosphere
in which Stratosphere acknowledged that the Harrah's patent was valid and
enforceable, and that it had infringed on the patent. Stratosphere also paid
monetary compensation to Harrah's for the infringement.
"Like many innovative companies that have invested significant human and
financial capital to develop patents and intellectual property, Harrah's seeks
to protect its assets, especially its intellectual property," said Gary Loveman,
Harrah's Entertainment President and Chief Operating Officer. "When an
infringement occurs, we will take the appropriate action."
Last July, Harrah's filed a lawsuit asking the U.S. District Court in
Nevada to bar Station Casinos, Inc. and its subsidiaries from infringing on
certain other patents that protect Harrah's groundbreaking customer-loyalty
program, Total Rewards. That lawsuit is proceeding.
Founded more than 60 years ago, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. is the most
recognized and respected name in the casino-entertainment industry, operating 25
casinos in the United States, primarily under the Harrah's brand name. With a
combined database of more than 25 million players, Harrah's Entertainment is
focused on building loyalty and value with its target customers through a unique
combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution,
operational excellence and technology leadership.
More information about Harrah's Entertainment is available on the
company's web site, www.harrahs.com.
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This release includes "forward-looking statements" intended to qualify for
the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified
by phrases such as the company "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "plans,"
"foresees," "forecasts," "estimates" or other words or phrases of similar
import. Similarly, such statements herein that describe the company's business
strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions or goals are also
forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements are subject to
certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those in forward-looking statements. Such risks and
uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic, bank, equity and
debt-market conditions, changes in laws or regulations, third-party relations
and approvals, decisions of courts, regulators and governmental bodies, factors
affecting leverage, including interest rates, abnormal gaming holds,
construction disruption and delays, ineffective marketing, effects of
competition and other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in our
reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The
projected results reported on in this release are for a partial year and may not
be indicative of results for future quarters or for the year. The
forward-looking statements made in this release reflect the opinion of
management as of today. Please be advised that developments subsequent to this
release are likely to cause these statements to become outdated with the passage
of time. We do not intend, however, to update the guidance provided today prior
to our next earnings release.
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