Phillips’ Patent Not Infringed, Jury Says

Phillips Petroleum Co. lost a bid for $158.4 million in damages when a jury decided that rival Exxon Mobil Corp. did not infringe a patent for making polyethylene plastic. A jury in federal court in Wilmington, Del., deliberated about six hours after a two-week trial before deciding that Irving, Texas-based Exxon Mobil, the world’s largest publicly traded oil company, did not use Phillips’ invention in its plastics. Bartlesville, Okla.-based Phillips sued in 1998, contending technology protected by its 1985 patent was misappropriated by Exxon Mobil in the manufacture of polyethylene pellets. Phillips officials had no immediate comment on the verdict. On the NYSE, Phillips shares fell 13 cents to close at $47.56, and Exxon Mobil shares rose $1.56 to close at $79.