A federal jury in Delaware has ordered Microsoft to pay IPA Technologies$242 million for patent infringement, ruling that Microsoft's Cortana virtual-assistant software violated an IPA patent. The jury found that Microsoft's voice technology is in conflict with IPA's patent protection, the patent that was initially held by SIRI Inc. of SRI International, which was later acquired by IPA.

This ruling comes from IPA's 2018 lawsuit, alleging that Microsoft's Cortana virtual-assistant software breached IPA's patent rights related to personal digital assistants and voice-based data navigation. Despite Microsoft's claim of innocence and intention to appeal, the jury's decision remains unchanged.

Why does it matter?

IPA has a track record of litigating against other big tech companies, including prior lawsuits against Google and Amazon for patent infringement. While Amazon successfully defended itself, the litigation against Google continues. This verdict underscores the complexities and high stakes involved in patent disputes within the tech industry.