This week VirnetX filed a complaint against Apple, along with Cisco Systems, Astra Technologies, and NEC Corporation. The California-based corporation has accused the defendants of patent infringement. In all, five specific patents are named in the suit:
- U.S. Patent No. 6,502,135 - "Agile Network Protocol for Secure Communications with Assured System Availability"
- 6,839,759 - "Method for Establishing Secure Communication Link Between Computers of Virtual Private Network Without User Entering Any Cryptographic Information"
- 7,188,180 - "Method for Establishing Secure Communication Link Between Computers of Virtual Private Network"
- 7,418,504 - Agile Network Protocol for Secure Communications Using Secure Domain Names"
- 7,490,151 - "Establishment of a Secure Communication Link Based on a Domain Name Service (DNS) Request"
With respect to Apple, VirnetX has accused the Cupertino, Calif., company of violating the patents ending in 135 and 151. The suit specifically mentions the iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPod touch and iPad as violating numerous claims in each patent.
"Apple's acts of infringement have caused damage to VirnetX," the complaint reads. "VirnetX is entitled to recover from Apple the damages sustained by VirnetX as a result of Apple's wrongful acts in an amount subject to proof at trial. In addition, the infringing acts and practices of Apple have caused, are causing, and, unless such acts and practices are enjoined by the Court, will continue to cause immediate and irreparable harm to VirnetX for which there is no adequate remedy at law."
VirnetX bills itself as "seamless, automatic, Internet security." Its website says that the company is "engaged in commercializing its patent portfolio by developing a licensing program." It said it owns more than 48 U.S. and international patents.
As noted by Bloomberg, earlier this year VirnetX won $200 million in a similar lawsuit against Microsoft. The Redmond, Wash., software giant settled the case over the VPN-related patents.
The latest complaint against Apple was filed in a U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Texas. Patent suits are frequently filed there in hopes of a favorable outcome.
36 Comments
Gotdamn, lawsuit rate is higher than a bitch in E this week.
Welcome to America... effin sad...
What a shocker, filed in the East District Court of Texas again.
Shouldn't be that big of an issue, since Apple just licences Ciscos technology. So Cisco would have to pay for Apple...
The latest complaint against Apple was filed in a U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Texas. Patent suits are frequently filed there in hopes of a favorable outcome.
How much longer must we suffer with lawsuits like this, where some no-name company happens to hold an extremely generic patient, doesn't do anything but squat on the idea, waits for some company to implement this method, and sues them for it? Further, why are these logic-defying lawsuits so often effective in the Eastern District of Texas? I think I know, but I don't want to be mean...
Software patents shouldn't be granted to those who don't implement them, or if anything, be revoked after a year or two if no active development has taken place. This has all been said before... nothing has been done about it... and you have innovative companies like Apple, Cisco, and dare I say, even Microsoft, being sued millions of dollars for no good reason. Isn't it time that all these companies band together and collectively say "F--- this, we're not paying, the U.S. patent system needs to be fixed, and let us know when it is."...?
It's pathetic how innovation is potentially being held back by some greedy no-name fools.