Andre Yoskowitz
20 Mar 2010 2:49
Just two days after a jury found that Microsoft had violated patents of small company VirnetX and fined the software giant $105.75 million USD, VirnetX has filed suit again, trying to get the jury to prove that more Microsoft products infringe on their patents, as well.
The jury had found that Windows XP, Vista and Office Communicator infringed the patents, but the suit was filed in 2008, so the new lawsuit now claims that Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 also infringe on the patents.
"This is a tactical and procedural post-trial action to ensure and protect our property rights as we proceed to final resolution with Microsoft," says VirnetX CEO Kendall Larsen.
Microsoft has already vowed to appeal the first ruling, and challenged this latest suit as well. Says MSFT spokesperson Kevin Kutz (via AllThingsD): "Microsoft respects intellectual property, and we believe our products do not infringe the patents involved. Moreover, we believe those patents are invalid. We will challenge VirnetX?s claims."
The company has already asked the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to re-examine the patents, and a preliminary review has already deemed most of VirnetX's claims as "invalid."