Apple ordered to pay $625 mln in patent dispute with VirnetX

NEW YORK: 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 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 $368 million in damages from Apple in a previous trial but in September 2014 a U.S. appeals court ruled the jury incorrectly calculated that award and ordered a new trial. 
Also on Wednesday, Apple filed court papers asking U.S. 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.