AT&T ordered to pay $156 million in patent case

AT&T Inc said on Monday that it has been order to pay $156 million after losing a patent infringement dispute brought on by TGIP Inc. McKool Smith P.C. the Dallas based law firm representing TGIP, said that the total financial award could treble to $468 million.

AT&T has said that it will appeal against the decision, which was dominated by 2 patents regarding calling card activation. A company spokesman Michael Coe, released an email statement to say, "We are disappointed by this result which is contrary to the law and evidence in this case. We will seek to have it corrected by the trial court or on appeal,"
TGIP has already reached agreements with other companies, namely Verizon Communications. No details were given regarding any settlement.

The lawsuit was filed in March 2006 against AT&T Corp. This was before they merged with SBC to form AT&T Inc.