Mikey Campbell
Internet software and patent holding holding company VirnetX on Friday officially announced it is asserting four virtual private network patents, the same properties used to secure a $368 million award from Apple on Tuesday, against the Cupertino tech giant's latest products.
As noted by The Next Web, VirnetX claims Apple's FaceTime infringes on its VPN patents, an assertion that a federal jury in Texas agreed with earlier this week when it ordered Apple to pay $368 million in damages.
According to court documents from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, VirnetX filed the new complaint on the same day it won the favorable jury decision. The most recent lawsuit takes aim at those Apple products which were not included in the previous suit due to their release dates, and include the iPhone 5, fourth-generation iPad, iPad mini, fifth-generation iPod touch and the "latest Macintosh computers." VirnetX is going after all Apple devices with FaceTime capabilities.
The same four VPN-related patents used in the previous suit are being leveraged in the new complaint, specifically U.S. Patent Nos. 6,502,135, 7,418,504, 7,921,211 and 7,490,151. VirnetX is looking to force a preliminary injunction against the alleged infringing Apple devices as well as damages related to their sale.
In 2010, Microsoft was ordered to pay VirnetX $200 million for violating two similar VPN patents, and the holdings firm is in the midst of ongoing litigation against Cisco Systems, Astra Technologies, and NEC Corporation.
Andrew Orr
Wesley Hilliard
Malcolm Owen
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81 Comments
"VirnetX is looking to force a preliminary injunction against the alleged infringing Apple devices as well as damages related to their sale."
Ouch, where's that "It's not about money it's about sending a message" Joker image when you need it.
Ouch, something smells like patent troll here... "keep sueing as long as you're winning".
1. Is this the same IP that MS paid $200m for? 2. They have the same lawyer firm that Apple used for their IPO [IMG ALT=""]http://forums.appleinsider.com/content/type/61/id/16043/width/500/height/1000[/IMG]
So, this company doesn't have a single shipping product, yet Apple was ordered to pay $368million for allegedly infringing on patents that this company is trolling?
Oh, and what a disgusting logo. You can always tell which are the scam companies by the piece of shit logos that would be embarrassing if they cost even $10.
If you cannot prove your using it you should loose it (the patent)
The Judge here should throw out these holding company cases as they are an insult to developers who take their idea and make it real.
Theory is cheap but to R&D a theory and make it real costs.
Perhaps Apple should counter claim with the costs of the R&D that took their so called theory and made it reality.