We continue with the soap opera between Apple and VirnetX. Things are not looking good for the Californian company. It is more than likely that Apple should pay more than a billion dollars to VirnetX. All for the patent infringement related to Face Time. We say that you will likely have to pay because the court decisions are not yet final and therefore Apple will appeal these decisions.
The affair between VirnetX and Apple dates back to 2010 where the second was sentenced to pay more than 300 million dollars, in 2016, because VirnetX was able to demonstrate that Apple violated various patents related to FaceTime and iMessage. With the interest, additional damages and other costs, the payment amounted to more than 400 million. Apple appealed and got the judgment void. But in a new one that was held after the event, Apple was again sentenced to pay for the violations committed.
In January 2020 it was appealed again but only a month later it was determined that there was no place for appeals and that therefore the process should continue and Apple should compensate VirnetX for the patent infringement.
However, at the end of 2020 Apple has asked the direct judge of the USA, Robert W. Schroeder III that reduces the amount you have to pay. The company's request came during a video conference hearing in which VirnetX's attorneys asked the court to add at least $ 116 million in interest. It also called for Apple to be required to pay 84 cents for each device sold that infringes on its FaceTime and VPN-related patent.
The new conditions requested by the plaintiff have again been appealed by Apple because it argues that the new claims will mean that it will have to pay more than a billion dollars. A figure very far from the initial one. The process is in the air and it seems it will continue for a long time to come.
