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EBay Finally Settles Patent Suit

Will buy three patents as part of agreement with MercExchange

By Laila Weir,  Newser User

Posted Feb 29, 2008 12:17 PM CST
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(Newser) – After years of legal battling that escalated to the Supreme Court, eBay has settled a patent-infringement lawsuit by e-commerce technology company MercExchange. The companies aren’t revealing the financial terms, but eBay will buy the three patents that led to the suit. The auction giant said the agreement won’t affect its 2007 results or 2008 financial guidance, reports the Wall Street Journal.

MercExchange sued eBay in 2001, charging its "Buy It Now" interface infringed on MercExchange patents. The case attracted attention to issues regarding patents controlling e-commerce and the ease with which patent plaintiffs were able to win injunctions. In its 2006 review, the Supreme Court curtailed patent injunctions somewhat, saying judges should also consider factors such as the public interest.

Meg Whitman, longtime chief executive of eBay, Inc., gives the keynote address to eBay sellers gathered at the eBay Live conference in Boston in this June 14, 2007 file photo. EBay Inc. on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2008 confirmed Whitman will step down as chief executive of the online auction company...
Meg Whitman, longtime chief executive of eBay, Inc., gives the keynote address to eBay sellers gathered at the eBay Live conference in Boston in this June 14, 2007 file photo. EBay Inc. on Wednesday,...   (Associated Press)
The exterior of the eBay Inc. headquarters is seen in San Jose, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
The exterior of the eBay Inc. headquarters is seen in San Jose, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)   (Associated Press)
An eBay sign is shown outside of the eBay campus in San Jose, in this July 17, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, file)
An eBay sign is shown outside of the eBay campus in San Jose, in this July 17, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, file)   (Associated Press)
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eBay • lawsuit • US Supreme Court • patent • patent infringement • MercExchange • e-commerce • patent injunctions

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