VirnetX Takes A Big $502 Million Bite Out Of Apple

Having been ordered to pay $502.6 million in damages to internet security company VirnetX, Apple might as well make the bite on its logo a bit bigger. A federal jury just awarded the victory to the plaintiff in a long-drawn battle that involves patent violations with regards to the Cupertino firm’s video messaging service. Apple still has a moves left, however, so this fight might not be over.

The decision was made by a federal jury in Texas, which potentially puts an end to a legal battle that has been going on for nearly a decade, Bloomberg reports. Starting in 2010, VirnetX basically sued Apple for supposedly infringing on its patents by using its technology for FaceTime and iMessage.

If the decision actually holds, it would mean a huge boon for the internet security firm, which isn’t exactly one of the most profitable companies in the market. In fact, it apparently only made $1.5 million in 2017, Fortunate reports. $502.6 million would be a pretty big boost to its finances.

The newest figure is a significant increase of the amount that VirnetX was awarded in the past and which Apple has successfully contested time and again. The company has been awarded $302 million and $439.7 million in the past instances that the courts sided with it.

Now, it seems the Cupertino firm has to pay an even bigger sum. If Apple isn’t careful, it could owe VirnetX over $1 billion if the current trend holds.

At this point, the iPhone maker might still have a shot at actually reversing the Texas jury’s decision. Back in 2016, it would seem that the Patent Trial and Appeal Board declared the patent that VirnetX was saying Apple violated as invalid. If so, this could throw a wrench in the gears and completely derail the internet security firm’s ascent to being $500 million richer.