• Recommend:
• 0 Comments

Network Associates Sues Internet Security Systems

One month after settling with rival RSA Data Security, software company files new patent infringement suit.

By James Niccolai, PCWorld   

In a suit filed in Federal District Court in the Northern District of California, Network Associates seeks monetary damages for the alleged patent infringement, as well as injunctive relief to prevent ISS from making or selling RealSecure.

ISS denied any wrongdoing, and said it will defend itself vigorously against the suit.

"We see this as a kind of bully tactic they're taking to compete against us," ISS spokesperson Michelle Norwood said.

News of the lawsuit comes on the same day that ISS announced a contract with the U.S. Army to deploy RealSecure at more than 400 U.S. Army facilities worldwide, where it will be used to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access. Network Associates' suit will not interfere with ISS's contract with the U.S. Army, Norwood said.

ISS's RealSecure software includes technology covered by U.S. patent No. 5,557,742, Network Associates claims, which covers "a method and system for detecting intrusion into and misuse of a data processing system," the company said.

Network Associates last month settled a patent infringement lawsuit filed against it by RSA Data Security. As part of the settlement, the two companies agreed to a royalty-bearing license under which Network Associates would be able to offer RSA components. Network Associates also agreed to pay RSA an undisclosed sum to cover incurred legal fees.