VirnetX Brings VPN Patent Battle to Apple, Cisco

By Geoff Duncan August 16, 2010

Image used with permission by copyright holder

After winning a $200 million patent infringement settlement from Microsoft, VPN technology company is expanding its legal fusillade to include other technology giants: the company has filed suit in the patent holder-friendly Eastern Texas U.S. District Court against a series of companies for infringing on its VPN patents. The named defendants in the suit are Apple, Cisco, NEC, and Aastra.

The suit alleges the companies infringe on five VirnetX patents, and seeks unspecified injunctive relief and damages. The suit claims Apple mobile devices (the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch) infringe on at least one of the patents (7,490,151) having to do with setting up secure communications using DNS. The claims against Aastra, NEC, and Cisco focus on VoIP products—including VoIP phones.

VirnetX acquired the patents in question when it acquired Science Applications International back in 2006. Science Applications mainly operated as a defense contractor. Shortly after the acquisition, VirnetX sued Microsoft for infringing on two of the company’s patents in Microsoft Office Communicator and Windows Meeting Space; VirnetX won the trial in March of this year and expanded the litigation to include Windows 7 before Microsoft agreed to a settlement.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

Computing

What to do if your Intel CPU keeps crashing

Pins on Core i9-12900K.

Despite being among the best processors you can buy, some high-end Intel CPUs have faced a wave of instability over the past few months. Intel is investigating the problem, but the company and its motherboard partners have already worked toward some temporary fixes to improve stability on high-end Intel CPUs -- even if it comes at a performance cost.

Before getting into the fixes, keep in mind that they are temporary. Intel will release a statement on the instability soon, likely with more direct guidance on what affected users should do. In addition, the scope of the problem isn't clear -- if you're not experiencing issues, you shouldn't have anything to worry about.
Who's affected

Computing

HP Envy deals: HP’s most popular laptop starts at $630

An HP Envy 17-inch laptop sits on an office desk.

HP is one of the best laptop brands in the laptop space, with a huge selection of laptops to pick from, including some of the best laptops on the market. More specifically, though, the HP lineup is probably at the top when it comes to versatile and relatively well-valued laptops. While there are quite a few variations and configurations of the HP Envy, we've gone ahead and put together the ones that we think will give you the most bang for your buck. That said, if you haven't found something you're specifically looking for, be sure to check out some of these other great laptop deals as well.
HP Envy x360 2-in-1 laptop 15Z-FH000 — $650, was $900

The HP Envy x360 convertible laptop is a great option for just about anyone, particularly anyone who enjoys the touchscreen functionality of a tablet. It’s well designed and super slim, making it a truly go-anywhere device. Despite its portability, it still has an immersive 15.6-inch touchscreen that’s great for creators, note-takers, and binge watchers. Top notch build quality and durability, fast charging technology, a fingerprint reader, and great battery life round out the top features of the HP Envy x360 convertible touchscreen laptop. It competes well with the best 2-in-1 laptops. Its versatility and all-around capability make it a worthy companion on any desk, and on any lap.

Computing

I use these simple printer tips to save money on ink and toner

Printing is fast and economical with the HP Smart Tank 7602.

The cost of a printer can range from under $100 for some good, low-cost inkjet printers to several hundred for the best color laser printers. However, the price you pay upfront doesn’t include paper, and the included ink and toner only lasts so long.

A bargain printer can end up costing you more overall if the cartridges are small and replacements are expensive. Follow these tips to minimize ink, toner, and paper waste, reducing the ongoing expense of using your printer in the long run.
Print in monochrome
Adobe Acrobat's print settings includes a grayscale option. Digital Trends