GoDaddy hit with $170 million patent verdict over website builder tech

What happened

A Delaware federal jury found that GoDaddy’s website design tools infringed two Express Mobile patents and awarded $170 million in damages. GoDaddy said it will fight the ruling in court and on appeal. Express Mobile previously won a $40 million verdict against Shopify in 2022 that was later overturned.

Why this matters

Large software patent wins can ripple across adjacent website builder and small business software platforms. They also tend to lift sentiment for companies that monetize or analyze intellectual property portfolios.

Winners

Patent licensing and IP monetization

Reason: High profile verdicts can strengthen negotiating leverage for owners of foundational software patents and incr ...