XPRT Venures LLC of Greenwich, Conn. has filed suit for $3.8 billion against eBay for allegedly copying six of its patents related to the online payment process, Pay Pal. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court, District of Delaware on July 13, 2010. 

XPRT further alleges that the infringement was “willful and malicious.” If found guilty of willful and malicious infringement, the court could award up to three times the $3.8 billion as punitive damages.

XPRT Ventures LLC alleges that eBay stole the technology for the six patents, then filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to patent them as its own. XPRT claims that it shared the technology with eBay in order to demonstrate its potential benefits and allow the two companies to partner for mutual profit.

Court documents show that eBay filed patent applications for the technology four times, which were rejected by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office due to XPRT’s prior application.

SOURCE:
"eBay slapped with patent lawsuit for allegedly stealing technology," Top Wire News, July 18, 2010.  http://news.topwirenews.com/2010/07/18/ebay-slapped-with-patent-lawsuit_201007188067.html