Gizmondo Europe, a subsidiary of Gizmondo maker Tiger Telematics, this week said it was "streamlining" its European operations and ramping up efforts in the US. The move is in anticipation of an August release of the Gizmondo, a handheld game console that has already been released in the UK.

　　Artfully absent in the announcement was any mention of numbers. So while layoffs may be part of the "shift in emphasis," it's not clear if any staffers overseas were laid off. The company said the Los Angeles office would concentrate on sales and distribution efforts but that employees there would also attempt to "exploit the music and movie-centric opportunities" so prevalent in LA.

　　The LA operations will also support an internal development studio and will complement other US operations in Texas and Florida, Tiger Telematics' home state.

　　The upcoming US launch is overshadowed by legal conflict, however. In May of 2005, Handheld Games of Mill Creek, Washington, filed a lawsuit against Tiger Telematics alleging breach of contract. The game developer is seeking $75,000 in damages. Handheld alleges Tiger Telematics was to "provide certain necessary Master License Information, Direction, Development Equipment and a Software Development Kit ... necessary [to proceed] with the development of [Chicane, Jenson Button Racing.]" Handheld alleges Tiger Telematics failed to deliver on its obligations.

　　And in March, the Board of Regents of the University of Texas filed a copyright infringement action against the company claiming that predictive text software used in the Gizmondo infringes on a patent held by the University.

　　In the company's most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, dated July 5, 2005, Tiger Telematics says it believes both lawsuits are without merit.