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Apple ordered to pay $440M in FaceTime, iOS patent case

By Sara Shayanian
Apple was ordered to pay $440 million to patent firm VirmetX, over claims it infringed on four designs in FaceTime and other iOS applications. File photo by Mahmoud Khaled/EPA
Apple was ordered to pay $440 million to patent firm VirmetX, over claims it infringed on four designs in FaceTime and other iOS applications. File photo by Mahmoud Khaled/EPA

Oct. 17 (UPI) -- Apple has been ordered by a court to pay nearly $440 million to patent holding firm VirnetX over claims it infringed on four patented technologies used in the company's FaceTime and other iOS applications.

"We are elated with the Court's Final Judgement of $439 million in that not only did it affirm the jury's verdict of $1.20 per infringing iPhone, iPad and Mac Product, but also added for willful infringement, interest and attorney fees," VirnetX CEO Kendall Larsen said.

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"This is the third time a jury has ruled in our favor against Apple."

The court granted all of VirnetX's motions, including one for willful infringement and one for an enhanced royalty rate from $1.20 to $1.80 per device.

"We believe this established per device rate for security is very reasonable and will greatly assist us with our domestic and global licensing efforts," Larsen said.

The court ruling appears to conclude the seven-year legal fight, which was the first patent infringement case against Apple.

Apple, though, said it plans to appeal the court's order, The Verge reported.

VirnetX first's suit against Apple won it $368 million.In 2012, the firm sued Apple again. Although Apple initially lost the suit and filed for a mistrial, it won a new trial, lost another and was ultimately ordered to pay around $300 million in a complicated series of suits.

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Other companies like Microsoft have also lost cases to VirnetX, which is sometimes referred to as a "patent troll" it often makes news for filing patent lawsuits.

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