• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Farm groups saved Bayer in court over RoundUp cancer claims. Five days later, Bayer called for tariffs on the ingredient farmers rely on

2

U.S. Treasury has borrowed $155 billion every month of this fiscal year—and is now paying $24 billion a week in interest on its debts

3

Billionaire MacKenzie Scott just donated $20 million to support America’s youth mental health, as a fifth of teens struggle with suicidal thoughts

1

Farm groups saved Bayer in court over RoundUp cancer claims. Five days later, Bayer called for tariffs on the ingredient farmers rely on

2

U.S. Treasury has borrowed $155 billion every month of this fiscal year—and is now paying $24 billion a week in interest on its debts

3

Billionaire MacKenzie Scott just donated $20 million to support America’s youth mental health, as a fifth of teens struggle with suicidal thoughts
Tech

Square Settled Lawsuit With Refuted Co-Founder for $50 Million

By
Leena Rao
Leena Rao
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Leena Rao
Leena Rao
Down Arrow Button Icon
May 5, 2016, 5:42 PM ET
Twitter Co-Founder Jack Dorsey
Square, a credit card reader made for smartphones, is arranged for a photograph in New York, U.S., on Monday, Oct. 25, 2010. Square Inc.'s mobile-payment technology allows smartphone users to make credit card payments and the availability of funding for new ventures. Photographer: Jin Lee/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesPhotograph by Jin Lee — Bloomberg via Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

On Thursday afternoon, payments company Square issued an earnings report, an announcement that revealed an interesting tidbit of news.

The company has settled an ongoing lawsuit brought about by Robert Morley for a whopping $50 million. Morley claims to have invented the Square credit card reader.

Morley initially sued Square (SQ) and its co-founders Jack Dorsey and James McKelvey in early 2014, alleging patent infringement and breach of fiduciary duty. The college professor claims that he, Dorsey, and McKelvey worked together in 2009 to figure out how to accept credit card payments through a mobile phone. Morley then alleged that he actually invented the hardware device that Square went on to use as its credit card reader. Dorsey and McKelvey then took that information and created Square, according to Morley, and cut him out of any ownership stake of the company.

For more on Square, watch our video.

Square settled the lawsuit with Morley, and paid him $50 million in cash for his work.

“We also accrued $50 million in general and administrative expenses in the first quarter of 2016 in connection with the Morley litigation,” the company stated in its earnings release. “We recently signed a binding term sheet with the plaintiffs stipulating the material terms of a settlement.”

Square declined to comment on the settlement for this story.

Unfortunately the $50 million took a hit on Square’s earnings, which missed on analyst expectations. For the first quarter 2016, the company’s took a loss of $97 million, compared to a loss of $46.3 million in the same quarter a year ago. Square saw revenue jump over 50% to $379 million.

Square declined to comment on the settlement for this story.

About the Author
By Leena Rao
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

Memory chip giant SK Hynix jumps nearly 13% in Wall Street debut as AI frenzy powers biggest initial share sale in the U.S. by a foreign company
AISemiconductors
Memory chip giant SK Hynix jumps nearly 13% in Wall Street debut as AI frenzy powers biggest initial share sale in the U.S. by a foreign company
By Damian J. Troise and The Associated PressJuly 10, 2026
1 hour ago
Billionaires warned New York would scare off business. Anthropic and Airbnb just made their biggest bets on the city yet
Real EstateAnthropic
Billionaires warned New York would scare off business. Anthropic and Airbnb just made their biggest bets on the city yet
By Mia OsmonbekovJuly 10, 2026
3 hours ago
This summer’s hottest IPOs are minting a new class of ultra-high-net-worth ‘IPO Bros’—and family offices are changing how they approach them
SuccessIPOs
This summer’s hottest IPOs are minting a new class of ultra-high-net-worth ‘IPO Bros’—and family offices are changing how they approach them
By Catherina GioinoJuly 10, 2026
4 hours ago
A row of people sit in a zoning meeting, many looking down or around the room.
EnvironmentData centers
Wyoming officials say Meta’s 715,000-square-foot data center is responsible for contaminating its water system with a rare bacterium
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 10, 2026
9 hours ago
Marketing’s new mandate: Why AI is forcing CMOs to think like ‘mini CEOs’ 
EuropeCMO
Marketing’s new mandate: Why AI is forcing CMOs to think like ‘mini CEOs’ 
By Sam ForsdickJuly 10, 2026
10 hours ago
In 2026 so far, U.S. VCs have deployed a record-shattering $412.7 billion. Almost none of it is trickling down.
NewslettersTerm Sheet
In 2026 so far, U.S. VCs have deployed a record-shattering $412.7 billion. Almost none of it is trickling down.
By Allie GarfinkleJuly 10, 2026
15 hours ago

Most Popular

Farm groups saved Bayer in court over RoundUp cancer claims. Five days later, Bayer called for tariffs on the ingredient farmers rely on
Economy
Farm groups saved Bayer in court over RoundUp cancer claims. Five days later, Bayer called for tariffs on the ingredient farmers rely on
By Mia OsmonbekovJuly 9, 2026
1 day ago
U.S. Treasury has borrowed $155 billion every month of this fiscal year—and is now paying $24 billion a week in interest on its debts
Economy
U.S. Treasury has borrowed $155 billion every month of this fiscal year—and is now paying $24 billion a week in interest on its debts
By Eleanor PringleJuly 10, 2026
13 hours ago
Billionaire MacKenzie Scott just donated $20 million to support America’s youth mental health, as a fifth of teens struggle with suicidal thoughts
Success
Billionaire MacKenzie Scott just donated $20 million to support America’s youth mental health, as a fifth of teens struggle with suicidal thoughts
By Emma BurleighJuly 9, 2026
1 day ago
Top Iranian officials admitted to the supreme leader that the U.S. naval blockade was crushing the economy, report says, as Trump eyes reimposing it
Middle East
Top Iranian officials admitted to the supreme leader that the U.S. naval blockade was crushing the economy, report says, as Trump eyes reimposing it
By Jason MaJuly 10, 2026
8 hours ago
Self-made multimillionaire says Canadians 'give no money away' compared with Americans—research shows U.S. giving is more than twice as high
Success
Self-made multimillionaire says Canadians 'give no money away' compared with Americans—research shows U.S. giving is more than twice as high
By Preston ForeJuly 9, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of oil as of July 10, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of July 10, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 10, 2026
14 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.