Vonage took one off the chin today, as a jury found them guilty for patent infringement. The suit, brought by Verizon, alleged that three patents belonging to them relating to VoIP technology were being used by Vonage without permission or without compensation, and they were asking for $197 million in damages and a 19% royalty. While Vonage certainly can't be happy with the verdict, they won't have to shell out quite that much:
A jury ordered Internet phone provider Vonage Holdings Corp. to pay $58 million for infringing on three patents owned by Verizon Communications Inc. Thursday. The eight-member federal jury also said Vonage must pay a 5.5 percent royalty rate on Vonage sales going forward.
Vonage is going to appeal the decision, and claims that the case will not have any impact on their service as a whole.