A federal judge approved a roughly $30 million judgment against eBay Inc. more than four years after a jury found the online auctioneer infringed on the patent of MercExchange.

U.S. District Court Judge Jerome Friedman on Dec. 11 entered a final judgment on the 2003 patent infringement verdict against eBay and Half.com, finding eBay had intentionally infringed MercExchange's '265 patent.

The dispute revolves around eBay's “Buy It Now” option, which sells merchandise at a fixed price instead of using fluctuating bids. MercExchange says eBay's system uses its patented technology.

“We are disappointed with the court's order and we plan to appeal it,” San Jose, Calif.-based eBay said in a statement.

Still pending before the Court is a motion by Great Falls, Va.-based MercExchange which will require eBay to account for additional revenues received since the jury's verdict through its fixed price sales, which account for about 39% of eBay's entire revenues.

A federal judge approved a roughly $30 million judgment against eBay Inc. more than four years after a jury found the online auctioneer infringed on the patent of MercExchange.

U.S. District Court Judge Jerome Friedman on Dec. 11 entered a final judgment on the 2003 patent infringement verdict against eBay and Half.com, finding eBay had intentionally infringed MercExchange's '265 patent.

The dispute revolves around eBay's “Buy It Now” option, which sells merchandise at a fixed price instead of using fluctuating bids. MercExchange says eBay's system uses its patented technology.

“We are disappointed with the court's order and we plan to appeal it,” San Jose, Calif.-based eBay said in a statement.

Still pending before the Court is a motion by Great Falls, Va.-based MercExchange which will require eBay to account for additional revenues received since the jury's verdict through its fixed price sales, which account for about 39% of eBay's entire revenues.