VirnetX Asks for More Money From Apple, Calls on Court to Shut Down FaceTime and iMessage

VirnetX, currently embroiled in a patent dispute with Apple over FaceTime and iMessage, today asked the judge presiding over the case for additional damages and an injunction to block Apple's popular messaging services.

According to Law360, VirnetX argues that an injunction is appropriate because Apple's infringement on VirnetX's patents, which relate to virtual private networking (VPN) protocols, has caused irreparable harm to the company. The Nevada-based patent holding company also called Apple the "poster child" for unreasonable litigation tactics and asked the court to increase its damages award by at least $190 million.

virnetx

At a post-trial hearing Wednesday, Texas technology company VirnetX argued that although an injunction blocking Apple's popular video chatting and messaging features, along with a virtual private network on demand feature, may seem like a harsh remedy, it is necessary because of the irreparable harm Apple's infringement caused the company.

Apple is currently appealing a February ruling that awarded VirnetX $625 million in damages, and VirnetX likely wants an injunction put in place to speed along the appeal process and force Apple into paying royalties. Apple has filed for a mistrial on the basis that VirnetX "blatantly misrepresented" the testimony of Apple's witnesses and used "arguments outside the evidence."

If an injunction is granted, Apple will be forced to shut down key features in Messages and FaceTime or find a workaround to avoid using functionality patented by VirnetX.

Tags: patent trials, VirnetX

Top Rated Comments

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Bbqthis

36 months ago

Just looking at that logo makes me want to punch someone.

Rating: 44 Votes

American Hero

36 months ago

So let me get this straight --

How long has FaceTime and iMessage been out for? Six years?

What "irreparable" damage has been done to a company most people haven't even heard of until now?

Looks like a company that's ran and managed by a bunch of losers.

Rating: 18 Votes

amg2014

36 months ago

The patent thingy between Apple and Virnetx is really starting to annoy me.

Rating: 10 Votes

kdarling

36 months ago

Is this company a patent troll or do they actually ship a product that uses the patents that are some how affected by iMessage and FaceTime?

Unlike a patent troll, this company is made up of some of the people who actually invented the patents, or their close coworkers.

And yes, they do sell code libraries, as well as licenses.

Apple should by (sic) the company,

Many of the shares are owned by the patent inventors themselves, who are the chief officers of VirnetX.

A larger chunk is owned by mutual funds investors. I think the amount of stock available on the open market is less than 50%, and that's all that could be bought easily by Apple. Not enough for a takeover.

Moreover, as soon as Apple bought more than 5%, they'd have to notify the SEC and state their intentions. Which would alert everyone and the stock price would surely skyrocket.

Not to mention that an attempted hostile takeover of a company that's successfully suing you, would probably set off alarms at the DOJ.

What "irreparable" damage has been done to a company most people haven't even heard of until now?

The fact that you, and the other posters who said this, have never heard of VirnetX is utterly meaningless to the case. All it does is point out that you don't work in the same area as SAIC. Ever heard of them?

Can someone tell me (not really) why they are not suing:
- Skype (Microsoft)
...

Microsoft already settled with VirnetX... twice. For a total of around $223 million. As did NEC and Siemens and several others.

That makes it more difficult for Apple's lawyers to try to claim the patents are invalid.

I think some of the other companies you mentioned are also in their cross hairs.

Rating: 10 Votes

Supacon

36 months ago

Looks like a company that's ran and managed by a bunch of [S]losers[/S] lawyers.

Fixed that for you.

Rating: 9 Votes

Pbrutto

36 months ago

Apple should by the company, and force their execs to go test Apple Watch 2 at the summit of Everest

Rating: 7 Votes

CarlJ

36 months ago

VirnetX, ..., today asked the judge presiding over the case for additional damages and an injunction to block Apple's popular messaging services.

Translation:
"Your honor, this negotiation would go ever so much better for us if we had Apple by the balls. Can you please hand us Apple's balls on a silver platter?"

According to Law360 ('http://www.law360.com/technology/articles/796999/virnetx-wants-apple-s-facetime-stopped-after-625m-win'), VirnetX argues that an injunction is appropriate because Apple's infringement on VirnetX's patents, which relate to virtual private networking (VPN) protocols, has caused irreparable harm to the company. The Nevada-based patent holding company also called Apple the "poster child" for unreasonable litigation tactics and asked the court to increase its damages award by at least $190 million.

Translation:
"We want to be the spoiled-brat poster child for patent trolls, and we're gonna hold our breath until we turn blue."

... VirnetX likely wants an injunction put in place to speed along the appeal process and force Apple into paying royalties. Apple has filed for a mistrial ('http://www.texaslawyer.com/id=1202748885065/Apple-Inc-Seeks-Mistrial-After-625M-Jury-Verdict?slreturn=20160426150928') on the basis that VirnetX "blatantly misrepresented" the testimony of Apple's witnesses and used "arguments outside the evidence."

Based on past experience, I'm gonna guess Apple's in the right here. The patent system was intended to give people an incentive to invent new things by granting them exclusive use of their new idea, before others are allowed to copy it. It is being used way too much in the software field for keeping anyone else from taking the obvious next step in many different areas. It was intended to keep people from copying other people's ideas, not to keep people from independently coming up with the same idea. And definitely not to allow folks to charge rent on obvious next step ideas simply by virtue of having filed the paperwork first.

Rating: 7 Votes

jbachandouris

36 months ago

I wish our worthless justice system would just disband patent trolls already. If you have a legitimate product being copied, then yes, you deserve the money. If not go away! Crooks.

Rating: 6 Votes

alexgowers

36 months ago

software technology and patents just don't work. The jury and judges don't understand them and the patent officers don't either. Unrelated technologies are used to stifle and affects the consumer.

The definition of a patent is to protect consumers and move things forward.

I hope patents are reformed soon, it's not helping anyone and those with genuine innovations and patents don't have the cash to defend them and if they are too broad can destroy whole areas of technology if suddenly that area opens up and becomes useful elsewhere. Telecoms and mobile stuff is really suffering and that should be the opposite with the patent system.

Rating: 5 Votes

Xavier

36 months ago

VirnetX: How much cash does Apple have? Yeah, lets just ask for all of it!

Rating: 4 Votes

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