Apple’s most hated patent troll, VirnetX, has hit the iPhone-maker with more legal woes this week, after it requested a court in Texas to have iMessage and FaceTime banned in the U.S.
VirnetX was awarded $625 million in damages after a jury found Apple had infringed on the company’s patents with iMessage and FaceTime. Now the patent troll is asking for an extra $190 million on top of the injunction because it feels Apple’s just been too unreasonable.
A post-trial report on Wednesday’s hearing by Law360 reveals VirnetX argued that while blocking Apple’s popular messaging and video chat services may seem harsh, it’s justifiable because of the irreparable damage Apple’s patent infringing did to the company, even though it had no plans to make its own platforms to compete with iMessage and FaceTime.
VirnetX also claims that Apple has become the “poster child” for unreasonable litigation tactics, so the court should award it an extra $190 million in damages.
Apple and VirnetX’s legal battles go all the way back to 2012 when the company was awarded $368 million and then tried to get the iPad, iPhone, and Mac banned.
In response to VirnetX’s demands, Apple has said an injunction or royalty payments is inappropriate because the U.S. Patent Office rejected the four patents VirnetX used in the suit. The company is seeking to have the case ruled as a mistrial due to lack of evidence.
