Ariba awarded $5m in damages

Supply Management, Nov 13, 2008

Ariba has been awarded nearly $5 million in damages after one of its competitors infringed two of its patents.

A jury in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas awarded the firm $4.9 million (£3.1 million), ruling rival e-procurement software provider Emptoris had infringed two of its patents. They involved the use of individual bid ceilings and overtime auction rules in electronic auctions. Ariba launched the suit against the firm last April.

"The judgement by the court finds that a few minor functions in the Emptoris sourcing solution infringed on the patents in question," said Robert Kellegrew, general counsel for Emptoris in a statement He added the firm would release a patch in the next 60 days eliminating the problem and there would be no disruption to the service or the company because of the decision.

SM asked Emptoris if it would appeal the decision, but it did not respond.