Apple pays up in patent case involving FaceTime technology

By

Facetime
Jony Ive and Steve Jobs talk during the first public FaceTime demo, which took place at WWDC 2010 in San Francisco.
Photo: Mathieu Thouvenin/Flickr CC

Out of appeals, Apple cut a check to VirnetX for more than $454 million to end a lengthy patent infringement case.

VirnetX, which sued Apple over patents relating to FaceTime, iMessage and VPN technologies, announced the payment in a one-paragraph press release Friday.

The payment comes less than three weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal of a lower court judgment. A second case was partially overturned recently and awaits a court date.

The VirnetX statement noted Apple made good on the awarded amount and added interest. The payment totaled $454,033,859.87.

“We are a small company with valuable security technology,” VirnetX CEO and President Kendal Larsen said Feb. 24 following the high court’s decision to not hear Apple’s appeal.  “The inventors of that technology have senior-level positions at VirnetX.  It has always been our objective to create our own products with our proprietary technology. 

“Unfortunately, when other companies are using your technology without permission, you must take action to protect that company asset.”

Apple claimed the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office had canceled significant portions of the patents at the center of the case, a report in MacRumors said. The courts, however, rescinded the cancelation and award VirnetX $440 payment.

Newsletters

Daily round-ups or a weekly refresher, straight from Cult of Mac to your inbox.

  • The Weekender

    The week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.