Ebay to Appeal Patent Infringement Against MercExchange

[chiquita]

http://www.webpronews.com                             By: David Utter                 12/13/07

The decision regarding eBay's use of the "Buy It Now" function on its auctions represents a setback since eBay's earlier success in court this summer. MercExchange won a judgment this week that would have eBay pay about $30 million for infringing the patent related to Buy It Now.

However, eBay still faces the prospect of giving up a lot more money to MercExchange, which demanded eBay account for Buy It Now sales and the revenue those created. EBay announced it would continue fighting the case and appeal the District Court's ruling:

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[QUILT]

 

[2boysandtoys]

  for sharing!  This will be interesting to watch.  There's recent chatter about ebaY reducing fees to stimulate the 'core business' and to regain lost market share.  Between the fees already due on this ruling, the fees incurred for the legal team and also the ongoing fees + the risk of residual fees, it will be interesting to see how ebaY can keep their stock price up and revenues 'up' ----- and also reduce cost of listing for sellers.

In other words - I see some reduction in staff coming soon.  The only way to affect the income stream is increase to revenue OR reduction to expenses.  Should be a fun year - 2008 - to watch ebaY react...