NEWPORT BEACH, Calif- Acacia Research Corp., which buys and licenses patents, Monday said it had won a $6.6 million judgment against Yahoo Inc. for infringement on an online advertising patent.

The Newport Beach-based company said a federal jury in the Eastern District of Texas, Tyler Division last week had ruled that Yahoo’s messenger program with IMVironments infringes on an Acacia patent.

“Although we are disappointed with the verdict, we firmly believe in the merits of our case, and we are considering our options going forward, including whether to appeal,” Yahoo said in a statement.

The patent covers advertising inserted as background into e-mails and Web posts.

Acacia has received licensing deals for various patents from computer companies and wireless carriers.