Apple Inc must pay VirnetX Holding Corp more than $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 $532 million VirnetX had sought before
the trial began on Jan. 25 in Tyler, Texas. The jury said Apple's
infringement was wilful.
VirnetX stock was trading at $9.30 after hours, up 94 percent from
its Wednesday close. Apple was down 45 cents to $95.90 in after-hours
trading.
The verdict, though a blow for Apple, does not pose a threat to the
company, which reported in January that its cash pile had reached $216
billion. Still, the amount is high for a patent case.