World Poker Tour Enterprises (WPTE), owner and operator of the World Poker Tour (WPT), has announced that it has settled a lawsuit filed two years ago by a group of professional poker players.

Seven poker pros–Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, Andrew Bloch, Annie Duke, Phil Gordon, Howard “The Professor” Lederer, Joe Hachem and Greg Raymer–in July of 2006 sued the WPTE, saying the WPT’s standard player’s release form violated Federal and State anti-trust laws. Hachem and Raymer dropped out of the lawsuit last year, but the other five pros remained.

The release form allowed WPTE to use players’ images from WPT events as it saw fit and without having to compensate the players. For example, WPTE could make and sell posters or DVDs of pros playing in WPT events without having to pay the pros anything.

In settling the dispute, WPTE and the poker players agreed to a new players’ standard release form that will be used from now on, WPTE said in a press release posted on its website (www.worldpokertour.com).

WPTE did not, however, release details of exactly what changes were made in the language of the release forms.

“WPTE continues to deny any liability or wrongdoing, but wants to settle its differences with the players so that the tour can focus on its continued growth rather than litigation,” the press release noted. “No monetary compensation was exchanged between the parties as a result of the settlement.”

Steve Lipscomb, founder and CEO of WPTE, was quoted in the press release saying: “We are glad to put this dispute behind us, and we look forward to working with all players to grow the sport of poker.”

Ferguson, one of the poker pros who sued WPTE, was quoted in the press release saying: “We are happy to have come to an agreement that is fair to all players, and to have put in place a new release that clears up ambiguities in how players’ images may be used. We are especially happy that this new release will apply to all poker players who wish to participate in WPT tournaments and events. WPTE has created some of the best poker events in the world, and we are excited to participate in them once again.” =A0 The WPT, a professional poker players tour, is a series of televised, high-stakes poker tournaments run by various casinos throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe and under the guidance of the WPTE.

(E-mail Tom Somach at tomsomach@yahoo.com.) =A0