IBM wins $44.9 million patent infringement suit against Zynga

[Cpvr]

Reuters reports tech company IBM won its lawsuit against mobile developer Zynga, which it sued over patent infringement in 2022.

Two years ago, IBM claimedthe Farmville creator was misusing its "foundational" web technology, including data capture and analytics. The two companies had reportedly been negotiating a license since 2014, but those talks repeatedly fell through.

IBM's other suits

At the time, Zynga was one of many internet companies IBM took legal action against. Earlier this year, a suit against e-commerce site Rakuten was settled, while another against pet goods seller Chewy was dropped entirely.

Documents show the federal court found multiple Zynga games fell within the bounds of patent violation. Specific titles listed include the Farmville sequels, Crosswords with Friends, and Wizard of Oz Slots.

With the court in its favor, IBM has been awarded $44.9 million in damages. However, Zynga spokesperson Alan Lewis argued those patents were invalid, and said the developer (and its owner Take-Two) plan on appealing the verdict

 

source.Gamedeveloper

[killamch89]

I hadn’t realized IBM was still so aggressive about protecting their patents, especially in the gaming space. Makes you wonder how much this will impact Zynga’s operations moving forward. Could $44.9 million really put a dent in their plans, or is it more of a minor setback for Take-Two?

[Lens]

IBM's $44.9 million win against Zynga tells us more about the importance of patent protection. I guess Zynga underestimated IBM's and looked at where it landed them. 

 

[Button]

I have seen IBM suing many companies because it holds over 80,000 patents. This actually sparks debate on how IBM is suing companies, but hey, it’s a legitimate defense of intellectual property.