Virntex, an infamous
patent-licensing firm has been mulling a Texas court to order Apple suspending its
Facetime and iMessage services. The Texas based firm has incurred irreparable
loss as a result of the tech giant’s action. Earlier in February, a jury has
hold Apple liable for infringing four of Virntex’s patents and has been ordered
to pay $625million (£426million) to the plaintiff in penalty. Besides appealing
for shutting down certain Apple services, Virntex also claims for another $190
million more to the previously awarded penalty.
Apparently dissatisfied with the earlier
verdict, Virntex has been seeking refraining Apple from using its technologies
in powering its video and text chat apps. The lawsuit seeks verdict in its
favor since the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has already acknowledged
Virntex’s claim to the inventions. Apple challenges the appeal arguing the
USPTO verdict has been challenged in a separate case before the Supreme Court,
reports BBC.
Virntex also appeals to the court
for increasing the previous penalty amount by at least $190 million accusing
Apple as a ‘Poster Child’ for unreasonable litigation tactics. The fight
between Apple and Virntex centering patent right over FaceTime and iMessage has
been initiated since 2012. In the first lawsuit, Apple has been ordered to pay $368.2
million in damages which has been over thrown later on with order for retrial.
The retrial has ended in February this year where Apple has repeatedly offered
for handing over FaceTime and iMessage services, according to a report
published in 9To5Mac.
If Virntex appeal gets
acknowledged by the court with order for injunction, it will compel Apple to
shut the features under litigation or replace with suitable apps avoiding
patent infringement. Virntex, a holding company with a small office in Nevada
enjoys copyright of the patents which dates from 1998. It has acquired the
patent right from the previous owner in 2006, reports Fortune.
Apple has declined to make comment on issue
under litigation. However, he believes, the Virntex patents are invalid and
also feels the necessity for reforming the patent laws. The lawsuit instigates
a long time debate over ‘Patent Trolls’. The terminology is used to indicate
shell companies that do not produce useful technologies while making quick bucks
from lawsuits. Media companies have already portrayed Virntex as a ‘Patent
Troll’, however the branding has been opposed by its CEO through his recent
blog post.
