MercExchange

MercExchange was a notable legal case in the United States involving patent rights related to online auctions. The dispute arose in the early 2000s when MercExchange, a patent holder, sued eBay for allegedly infringing on its patents. The Supreme Court eventually ruled in favor of eBay, indicating that a patent holder must show a likelihood of irreparable harm to obtain an injunction. This case highlighted important issues about patent enforcement and the balance between protecting intellectual property and fostering innovation, significantly influencing how technology companies manage patent disputes.