By Debbie Cai
VirnetX Holding Corp. (VHC) has alleged Microsoft Corp.'s (MSFT)
Skype service violates six of the security software company's
patents.
VirnetX said Microsoft infringed on patents outside the limited
license deal that the software giant reached with VirnetX after
purchasing Skype.
Microsoft was not immediately available for comment.
The company uses its patent portfolio to seek revenue from
licensing fees or court judgments. Most of VirnetX's revenue has
come from a $200 million patent-infrigement-related settlement
reached with Microsoft in 2010, according to research firm ISI
Group.
VirnetX, which filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for
the Eastern District of Texas Monday, said Skype falls outside of
the scope of the previous license.
VirnetX is seeking damages and injunctive relief.
A jury in February upheld VirnetX' $368 million award in a
patent suit against Apple Inc. (AAPL), but Cisco Systems Inc.
(CSCO) prevailed in a separate suit last month that accused the
networking company of violating one of VirnetX' patents by selling
routers designed to run virtual private networks.
VirnetX rose 4.2% to $19.57 in recent trading, while Microsoft
was up 3.9% to $30.93.
Write to Debbie Cai at debbie.cai@dowjones.com
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