IBM Wins Patent Dispute with Groupon

It was a victorious day for IBM on Friday as a U.S. jury awarded the company $83 million in a patent dispute with Groupon.

A Delaware jury found that Groupon had used IBM’s patented e-commerce technology without authorization following a two-week trial.

IBM spokesman Douglas Shelton said in a statement, “IBM invests nearly $6 billion annually in research and development, producing innovations for society. We rely on our patents to protect our innovations. We are pleased by the jury’s verdict.”

“We continue to believe that we do not infringe on any valid IBM patents,” Groupon spokesman Bill Roberts stated.

“To the extent these patents have any value at all — which we believe they do not — the value is far less than what the jury awarded.”

IBM was seeking $167 million in damages.

IBM lawyer John Desmarais told jurors that IBM had no other choice but to see as Groupon refused to take responsibility for infringing on the company’s patent.

“The verdict is a vindication for IBM’s licensing program,” Desmarais stated.

Disclaimer: We have no position in IBM (NYSE: IBM) nor Groupon Inc. (NASDAQ: GRPN) and have not been compensated for this article.