eBay v. MercExchange

eBay v. MercExchange is a key legal case that clarified how courts decide whether to issue an injunction to stop patent infringement. The Supreme Court ruled that, unlike in the past, courts must apply a four-factor test—considering harm to the patent holder and the defendant, public interest, and whether the patent holder has suffered irreparable injury—before granting an injunction. This case established that obtaining an injunction is not automatic after patent infringement but depends on specific circumstances, making the process more balanced for both patent holders and accused infringers.