Court Finds Vonage Infringed On Verizon Patents
By Greg Scoblete -- TWICE, 3/12/2007
Virginia — Vonage infringed on three of seven disputed Verizon patents, the U.S. District Court for the Virginia Eastern District found last week.
The court ruled that the VoIP firm has to pay $58 million to Verizon. Vonage has appealed the ruling.
Both sides were quick to claim victory, or a measure of vindication, from the verdict. In a statement, John Thorne, Verizon senior VP and deputy general counsel, said the company was “proud of our inventors and pleased the jury stood up for the legal protections they deserved.”
Vonage issued its own statement, saying it expected the verdict to be reversed on repeal and noting that the damage award of $58 million was 70 percent less than the $197 million demanded by Verizon. Vonage also noted that the jury rejected Verizon’s claim that the company willfully infringed on its patents.
Immediately upon the decision, Verizon requested an injunction, which will be heard by the court on March 23.
Vonage said that if the court does impose one, it would seek an immediate stay from the Federal Court of Appeals and that its customers “should see no change to any aspect of their phone service.”
Vonage also released a statement saying it had “the utmost confidence” that it was not going out of business, that there would be no loss of service, or change in service, for its customers.
The court ruled that the VoIP firm has to pay $58 million to Verizon. Vonage has appealed the ruling.
Both sides were quick to claim victory, or a measure of vindication, from the verdict. In a statement, John Thorne, Verizon senior VP and deputy general counsel, said the company was “proud of our inventors and pleased the jury stood up for the legal protections they deserved.”
Vonage issued its own statement, saying it expected the verdict to be reversed on repeal and noting that the damage award of $58 million was 70 percent less than the $197 million demanded by Verizon. Vonage also noted that the jury rejected Verizon’s claim that the company willfully infringed on its patents.
Immediately upon the decision, Verizon requested an injunction, which will be heard by the court on March 23.
Vonage said that if the court does impose one, it would seek an immediate stay from the Federal Court of Appeals and that its customers “should see no change to any aspect of their phone service.”
Vonage also released a statement saying it had “the utmost confidence” that it was not going out of business, that there would be no loss of service, or change in service, for its customers.
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