U.S. Government Files Brief Against eBay in Patent Case

The federal government took a position against eBay Inc. in a patent dispute that threatens to shut down one of the online auction site's popular shopping features. The Office of the Solicitor General said in a brief filed with the Supreme Court that eBay willfully infringed on patents held by Great Falls-based MercExchange LLC and should be enjoined from using its "Buy It Now" feature, which allows users to buy goods at fixed prices rather than compete in auctions.