Vonage Ordered to Pay Verizon $58M

Internet phone company Vonage must pay Verizon Communications $58 million for infringing on three patents that enable the upstart's low-cost telephone service, a jury ruled Thursday.

The judgment is far less than the $197 million that Verizon had requested, and it was more in line with what Vonage had suggested -- if the Holmdel, N.J.-based company was found liable.

Still undetermined is whether Vonage will be barred from using Verizon's technology. Following the verdict, attorneys for New York-based Verizon requested a permanent injunction barring Vonage from further use of the patented technology.

A hearing on the request was scheduled for March 23 in U.S. District Court in Alexandria....

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