Jury Award Against EBay Put on Hold
EBay Inc. doesn’t have to pay a Virginia company $29.5 million while it appeals a jury award for infringing patents for conducting sales over the Inter- net, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.
U.S. District Judge Jerome B. Friedman said he would delay enforcement of the judgment against the world’s largest online auctioneer pending the appeal. San Jose-based EBay is challenging a jury finding in favor of MercExchange of Great Falls, Va.
The dispute centers on EBay’s fixed-price sales, which have grown steadily in importance since the company acquired Half.com in June 2000 and later introduced a “buy it now” option for auctions. Such sales account for more than a quarter of the value of items sold on EBay.
Friedman previously declined to order EBay to halt fixed-priced sales while the appeal is pending.
EBay has said it would make design changes to avoid any further allegations of infringement and said customers would not be affected.
EBay shares Wednesday rose 13 cents to $110.36 on Nasdaq.
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