Federal Jury Rules in IPA Technologies’ Favor, Orders Microsoft to Pay $242 Million for Cortana Patent Infringement

A federal jury in Delaware has ruled that Microsoft must pay IPA Technologies a hefty sum of $242 million after finding that Microsoft’s Cortana virtual assistant software infringed upon an IPA patent. The week-long trial concluded with IPA successfully arguing that Microsoft’s voice-recognition technology violated their patent rights in computer communications software.

IPA Technologies, a subsidiary of Wi-LAN, acquired the patent in question from SRI International’s Siri Inc., the company behind Apple’s Siri virtual assistant technology. This legal battle highlights the complexities and disputes often seen in the realm of intellectual property rights and technology innovations.

A Microsoft spokesperson stated, “We remain confident that Microsoft never infringed on IPA’s patents and will appeal the decision.” Representatives for IPA and Wi-LAN have not yet commented on the verdict.

The lawsuit, initiated by IPA in 2018, originally covered a broader range of patents related to personal digital assistants and voice-based data navigation. However, it was eventually narrowed down to focus on one specific IPA patent. Throughout the proceedings, Microsoft maintained its innocence, claiming it did not infringe on IPA’s patent and arguing that the patent itself was invalid.

IPA Technologies has been actively involved in patent litigation beyond the case against Microsoft, also taking legal action against Google and Amazon. While Amazon successfully defended itself in 2021, the legal dispute with Google is still ongoing, showcasing the ongoing battles within the tech industry over intellectual property rights.