IBM awarded $44.9 million in patent infringement lawsuit against Zynga

IBM has won a patent infringement case against Zynga that has seen the mobile publisher ordered to pay $44.9 million in damages.

A Delaware jury determined that 10 of Zynga’s games infringed on two of IBM's patented web-based communications. Those titles are said to include Farmville, its sequels, Crosswords with Friends, CSR Racing 2, Empires & Puzzles and Hit it Rich.

The patents in the case have now expired and Zynga will not have to modify or halt operations of any of its games.

A plan to appeal

This result was reached more than two years on from IBM’s original filing. Zynga said it intends to appeal the verdict.

"Zynga believes this result is not supported by the facts and the law, and intends to seek to overturn the verdict and reduce or eliminate the damages award through post-trial motions and appeal," read an SEC filing from publisher and Zynga-owner Take-Two.

IBM originally filed its suit on May 2nd, 2022, just weeks before Zynga’s $12.7 billion acquisition by Take-Two was completed. The court case began on September 9th, 2024 and four days later on September 13th, the jury reached its decision.