Digital audience measurement company comScore this morning reported its earnings for Q4 and full year 2011. Last quarter, comScore says it achieved record revenue of $62.6 million, a 22 percent increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2010.

However, comScore posted a net loss of $3.3 million, or a loss of $0.10 per share, for the quarter. The reason for the – unexpected – loss isn’t hard to find: the company says it includes $7.8 million in costs related to litigation with Nielsen and the related settlement.

For your background: Nielsen originally filed suit against its rival in March 2011, accusing comScore of infringing five patents it owns that relate to measuring and displaying online content.

Looking at full-year results, the impact of the patent-related litigation is even more apparent: comScore says the GAAP losses for 2011 ($15.8 million, or $0.49 per share) include costs of $16.5 million related to its litigation and subsequent settlement with Nielsen.

Costly feud indeed, though we should note Nielsen also acquired approximately $19 million in comScore restricted common stock as part of the settlement agreement.

Fourth quarter revenue was also negatively impacted by approximately $600,000 due to the effects of foreign exchange fluctuations, comScore adds.