Apple ordered to pay US$625m in patent dispute with VirnetX

[NEW YORK] Apple Inc must pay VirnetX Holding Corp more than US$625 million for using the patent licensing company's Internet security technology without permission in its FaceTime and iMessage features, a federal jury in Texas said on Wednesday.

The award was more than the US$532 million VirnetX had asked for going into the trial, which began on Jan 25 in Tyler, Texas. The jury said Apple's infringement was wilful.

It was the second time VirnetX and Apple had battled in court.

VirnetX had won more than US$368 million in damages from Apple in a previous trial but in September 2014 a US appeals court ruled the jury incorrectly calculated that award and ordered a new trial.

Also on Wednesday, Apple filed court papers asking US District Judge Robert Schroeder for a mistrial, saying VirnetX's attorneys had misled and confused the jury during closing arguments. It is not known when Schroeder will make a ruling on that request.

REUTERS