By Sagar V. Mankar Activision Blizzard has been ordered to pay $23.4 million to settle a patent infringement lawsuit filed nearly a decade ago. This decision marks the conclusion of a legal battle that began in 2015, leaving Activision Blizzard on the losing side.
The dispute originated when Acceleration Bay, a company specializing in patented technologies, accused Activision Blizzard of using its information-sharing technology without permission. This technology was allegedly implemented in several of Activision’s popular games, including World of Warcraft and multiple Call of Duty titles. After extensive legal proceedings, the court determined that Activision had indeed infringed on two patents owned by Acceleration Bay.
Activision Blizzard argued in its defense that it never utilized the patented technology in its games and requested that damages, if any, should not exceed $300,000. Despite these claims, the court ruled against the company, mandating a $23.4 million payment. The breakdown includes $18 million for infringement related to World of Warcraft and $5.4 million for the Call of Duty franchise as reported by Reuters.
A spokesperson for Activision Blizzard expressed disappointment, stating, “We believe there is a strong basis for appeal. We have never used the patent technologies at issue in our games.” Meanwhile, Acceleration Bay’s legal team celebrated the outcome, highlighting their persistence over the nine-year legal battle.
This is not the first time Activision Blizzard has faced costly lawsuits. Earlier this year, the company settled a gender discrimination case for over $50 million, further adding to its financial and reputational troubles.
Source: Reuters