7 VirnetX vs. Apple
This case is one of Apple’s longest-running patent battles, stemming from VirnetX’s 2012 allegations that Apple willfully infringed on four patents related to FaceTime, iMessage, and other Apple-branded VoIP protocols.
Though VirnetX is yet another patent-only entity bold enough to bring their complaints against Apple to court, it’s worth noting that over the years it’s been going through the court system, Apple has been slapped with multiple judgments for within the ballpark of $500 million, plus or minus — which have of course been contested and appealed by the tech titan at every twist and turn.
The last update from this case, which is still ongoing at this point, came back in October of last year when a federal judge ordered Apple to pay nearly $440 million to VirnetX..
Naturally, Apple vowed to appeal the judgment — just as it’s done the last three times it was determined to have “willfully infringed” VirnetX’s patents. Only time will tell how, or to what extent, Apple is “culpable,” of course; but even at its current rate, the company is spending a fortune in legal fees just defending itself.