Twenty-two major software and security companies are being sued for alleged patent infringement by a little-known entity now controlling the two patents in question.
Information Protection and Authentication of Texas (IPAT) filed suit on Dec. 30 against companies such as Microsoft, Symantec and CA, alleging infringement of U.S. patents No. 5,311,591 and No. 5,412,717.
Patent 5,311,591 is called “Computer System Security Method and Apparatus for Creating and Using Program Authorization Information Data Structures” and was granted in May 1994. The inventor is credited as Addison M. Fischer of Naples, Fla. The innovation is intended to allow a computer user to control how an application behaves in order to thwart other malicious software.
The second one, No. 5,412,717, is also credited to Fischer and was granted in May 1995. The invention deals with using hashes -- unique numerical identifiers -- to ensure an application has not been tampered with.
IPAT is asking for a jury trial in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, where many companies choose to file patent disputes. IPAT seeks an injunction against the companies using the technologies and damages.
Also named in the suit are companies AVG, Check Point Software, Comodo, ESET, F-Secure, Iolo technologies, Kaspersky Lab, McAfee, MicroWorld Technologies, NetVeda, Norman Data Defense Systems, Novell, PC Tools, PWI, Sophos, Sunbelt Software, Trend Micro, Velocity Micro and Webroot Software.
Rss FeedRss Feed
The Leader in Network Knowledge
Partner Content
Blue Stripe Software
www.bluestripe.com/
Improving Application Performance Troubleshooting
Diagnosing why an application is slow is hard, at times taking days or weeks to isolate and resolve. This paper explains the challenges involved using current management tools, provides a 'wish list' for application management and analysis, and explains the need for an application system-wide approach that monitors entire applications, not components.
Download Whitepaper
Virtual Vigilance: Managing Application Performance in Virtual Environments
This paper highlights the impact of virtualization on application performance. "Managing Application Performance in Virtual Environments" states: "Best-in-Class organizations are predominately taking actions around improving visibility across both physical and virtual systems, assessing the business impact of application performance and understanding interdependencies of applications in virtualized environments."
Download Whitepaper
Application Service Requests: The Missing Link for Pragmatic ITSM
Forrester Research analyst Glenn O'Donnell and BlueStripe co-founder Vic Nyman discuss a breakthrough approach to application problem management. Learn the new approach for ITSM problem management, which provides: Rapid isolation of application slow-downs to specific components for quick problem resolution, 24/7 monitoring for proactive notification of potential issues before end users are impacted and much more.
Register for Webcast
Comments (7)
Legal parasitesBy Anonymous on January 9, 2009, 10:17 amThese kind of patent lawsuits are the work of scum-sucking parasitic lawyers. Yes, I know this is redundant...
Reply | Read entire comment
You should be proudBy Dovydas on January 9, 2009, 12:11 pmWhy parasites? If you are proud of your US legal system, you should be proud of these parasites too. They are part of your law system. We in Europe don't like...
Reply | Read entire comment
what does IPAT use for antivirus protection?By Anonymous on January 9, 2009, 2:53 pmhmmm.. unless they make their own products, they are using the software in question them selves.
Reply | Read entire comment
Money Off MoneyBy Anonymous on January 9, 2009, 4:27 pmThey all cant make money through normal routes so the find back door ways of generating profits regards www.cbuyerdirect.com , unfortunately the way of the world
Reply | Read entire comment
Welcome to Texas, the plaintiff's heavenBy Anonymous on January 9, 2009, 11:22 pmThe plaintiff (IPAT) is a company - Information Protection and Authentication of Texas, LLC established in July 2008 in Texas. The proud founders did not forget...
Reply | Read entire comment
What INOVATION they brough via those patents if it was in use beBy Anonymous on January 12, 2009, 6:07 amWell I think writing down on paper technology that is in use long time should not make you an inventor If there are ways to prove that it was in use by major software...
Reply | Read entire comment
View all comments