VirnetX

Robert Dunham Short and Victor Larson co-invented a protocol in 1998{{Cite patent|number=US7490151B2|title=Establishment of a secure communication link based on a domain name service (DNS) request|gdate=2009-02-10|invent1=Munger|invent2=III|invent3=Larson|invent4=Williamson|inventor1-first=Edward Colby|inventor2-first=Robert Dunham Short|inventor3-first=Victor|inventor4-first=Michael|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US7490151B2/en}} that encrypts real-time audio and video transmissions, which was then sought by Apple for their FaceTime app.{{Cite web |date=2019-03-21 |title=Apple is Afraid of Inventors, Not Patent Trolls |url=https://ipwatchdog.com/2019/03/21/apple-afraid-inventors-not-patent-trolls/id=107575/ |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=IPWatchdog.com {{!}} Patents & Intellectual Property Law |language=en}}

In 1999, Dr. Short, Edward Munger, Vic Larson, and Mike Williamson invented a protocol to automatically create hidden Internet connections using DNS.{{cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US7490151B2/en|title=Establishment of a secure communication link based on a domain name service (DNS) request|website=Google Patents|access-date=September 6, 2024}}

In December 2002, Short, Munger, Larson, Williamson, and Douglas Schmidt invented a method for assigning unique IP addresses to form secure connections with biometric verification.{{cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US6502135B1/en?oq=US+Patent+No+6%2c502%2c135+B1|title=Agile network protocol for secure communications with assured system availability|website=Google Patents|access-date=September 6, 2024}}

VirnetX was incorporated in 2005.{{cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/VHC/profile/|title=VirnetX Holding Corporation|website=Yahoo Finance|access-date=June 14, 2024}}

In 2007, Short became Chief Scientist, and the company went public on the American Stock Exchange in December of that year.{{cite web|url=https://ir.virnetx.com/node/7871/html|title=Form S-1|website=U.S. SEC|date=April 29, 2008|access-date=June 14, 2024}}

In May 2010, Microsoft and VirnetX settled patent disputes for $200M.{{cite web|url=https://www.crn.com.au/news/microsoft-pays-us200m-to-settle-patent-case-174997#:~:text=Microsoft%20has%20agreed%20to%20pay,components%20the%20company%20had%20patented.|title=Microsoft pays US$200m to settle patent case|website=CRN|date=May 18, 2010|author=Shaun Nichols|access-date=September 6, 2024}} The following month, Short took over as Chief Technology Officer (CTO).{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/15904180?embedded-checkout=true|title=Dr Robert Dunham Short III|website=Bloomberg|access-date=June 14, 2024}}

In 2014, Microsoft and VirnetX settled patent disputes over Skype technology for $23 million.{{cite web|last=Armental|first = Richard|title=VirnetX, Microsoft Settle Patent Dispute Over Skype|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/virnetx-microsoft-settle-patent-dispute-over-skype-1419018552?mod=yahoo_hs|publisher=wsj}} In their Apple case, VirnetX worked together with SAIC,{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Gina|title=Who is VirnetX? Apple To Pay $368 Million to IBM? NSA? CIA? Who?|url=http://anewdomain.net/2012/11/06/who-is-virnetx-apple-must-pay-300m-plus-breaking/|publisher=A New Domain|access-date=27 April 2013}} and was awarded $368 million in damages for FaceTime infringement.{{cite web|last=Bell|first=Killian|title=U.S. Court Orders Apple To Pay $439.7 Million Damages For FaceTime Patent Infringement|url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/11/07/u-s-court-orders-apple-to-pay-368-million-damages-for-facetime-patent-infringement/|publisher=TechCrunch|access-date=4 Aug 2014}} That ruling was partially vacated in August 2014, but two patents were confirmed to be infringed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.{{cite web|url=http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/images/stories/opinions-orders/13-1489.Opinion.9-12-2014.1.PDF |title=United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit: Virnetx, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc. |access-date=September 19, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522201411/http://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/images/stories/opinions-orders/13-1489.Opinion.9-12-2014.1.PDF |archive-date=May 22, 2015 }}

In December 2014, VirnetX opened access to their Gabriel platform, which builds upon their patents, and is implemented as small to medium-sized business enterprise collaboration software.{{cite web|url=http://virnetx.com/virnetx-opens-gabriel-beta-program/|title=VirnetX Opens Gabriel Beta Program|work=VirnetX}}

In February 2016, an East Texas jury unanimously ruled in federal court that Apple had willfully violated 13 VirnetX patents. The jury said Apple must pay VirnetX $625.6 million for infringing four of the patents, and the court was considering ongoing royalty rates and punitive damages.Joe Mullin, [https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/02/jury-apple-must-pay-626-million-to-patent-troll-virnetx/ Jury: Apple must pay $626 million to patent troll VirnetX], Ars Technica, February 4, 2016 The first retrial, conducted from September 26 to September 30, 2016, resulted in another unanimous jury verdict for VirnetX.Andrew Liptak, [https://www.theverge.com/2016/10/1/13130722/apple-been-ordered-virnetx-patent-lawsuit-facetime], The Verge, October 1, 2016 The verdict re-affirmed patent violations enabling Facetime and iMessage and awarded $439.7 million to VirnetX. The remaining two patents were tried separately.

In 2018, Apple was ordered to pay $502.6 million to VirnetX. That order was vacated in 2019, but Apple was still found by the jury to be infringing two patents.{{Cite web|last=Lyons|first=Kim|date=2020-10-31|title=Apple ordered to pay VirnetX $502.8 million in patent trial|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/31/21543315/apple-ordered-pay-virnetx-patent-troll-facetime-vpn|access-date=2021-01-25|website=The Verge|language=en}} In February 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court did not consider an appeal made by Apple.{{Cite web |first= |date=2020-02-24 |title=Supreme Court rejects appeal in Apple's $1-billion dispute over FaceTime patents |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/story/2020-02-24/apple-rebuffed-supreme-court-billion-facetime-patent |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} The jury awarded VirnetX $502.8 million in 2020 after a separate jury determined that Apple's iPhones and iPads infringed patents related to virtual private networks.{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-30/apple-told-to-pay-virnetx-503-million-in-security-patent-trial?embedded-checkout=true|title=Apple Must Pay VirnetX $503 Million in Security-Patent Trial|website=Bloomberg|date=October 30, 2020|author1=Christopher Yasiejko|author2=Laurel Brubaker Calkins|access-date=September 6, 2024}} Apple's request for a new trial was overturned in January 2021.{{Cite news|date=2021-01-15|title=Apple fails to overturn VirnetX patent verdict, could owe over $1.1 billion|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-virnetx-idUSKBN29K2DU|access-date=2022-01-25}}

In July 2020, VirnetX transferred the listing of its common stock from NYSE American to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).{{cite web|url=https://itsecuritywire.com/news/new-york-stock-exchange/|title=VirnetX Announces Voluntary Transfer Listing of its Common Stock to the New York Stock Exchange|website=Security Wire|date=July 20, 2020|access-date=September 6, 2024}}

Victor Larson was appointed as CTO in 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/17253235?embedded-checkout=true|title=Dr Victor Larson|website=Bloomberg|access-date=June 14, 2024}} In March 2021, the patent and trial appeal board ruled that two of VirnetX's patents were invalid in its dispute with Apple.{{Cite web|title=VirnetX Falls as Appeals Court Denies Bid to Nix Patent Ruling|url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/ip-law/virnetx-falls-as-appeals-court-denies-bid-to-nix-patent-ruling|access-date=2022-01-25|website=news.bloomberglaw.com|language=en}}

VirnetX Matrix, which secures private access to Internet applications and infrastructure, and War Room, a security video conferencing product, were both launched in 2022.{{cite web|url=https://cioinfluence.com/itechnology-series-news/virnetx-launches-matrix-to-secure-internet-applications-and-services/|title=VirnetX Launches Matrix to Secure Internet Applications and Services|website=CIO Influence|date=April 8, 2022|access-date=April 19, 2024}}

In March 2023, the city of Bridgeport, West Virginia, deployed VirnetX’s Matrix to secure internet-based applications and infrastructure after the city experienced a ransomware attack.{{cite web|url=https://in.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/VIRNETX-HOLDING-CORPORATI-772237/news/VirnetX-Holding-Corporation-Announces-Deployment-of-Virnetx-Matrix-153-by-City-of-Bridgeport-43379454/|title=VirnetX Holding Corporation Announces Deployment of Virnetx Matrix™ by City of Bridgeport|website=Market Screener|date=March 29, 2023|access-date=September 6, 2024}} On March 31, 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit overturned the 2018 verdict following the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board's cancellation of the patents that VirnetX had accused Apple of infringing.{{Cite news |last=Brittain |first=Blake |date=2023-03-30 |title=Apple wins U.S. appeal over patents in $502 mln VirnetX verdict |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/apple-wins-us-appeal-over-patents-502-mln-virnetx-verdict-2023-03-30/ |access-date=2023-08-28}}{{Cite web |last=Dobberstein |first=Laura |title=Decade-old patent lawsuit goes Apple's way |url=https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/31/apple_virtnetx_suit/ |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=The Register |language=en}}

VirnetX announced a partnership with Samsung in May 2023 to resell Samsung’s digital display products, including the Samsung Interactive Pro, for hybrid workspaces using the VirnetX One family suite, including War Room and VirnetX Matrix.{{cite web|url=https://rwsmagazine.com/virnetx-collaborates-with-samsung/|title=VirnetX Collaborates with Samsung|website=RWS|date=May 15, 2023|author=Bruce Christian|access-date=April 19, 2024}}

In March 2024, VirnetX and Samsung announced an extension of their partnership, working together to provide technology to scientifically document and analyze unidentified aerial phenomena for History Channel’s The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch.{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalsignagetoday.com/news/skinwalker-ranch-partners-with-samsung-virnetx-in-command-center/#:~:text=%22We%20are%20excited%20to%20work,information%20gathered%20at%20Skinwalker%20Ranch.|title=Skinwalker Ranch partners with Samsung, VirnetX in command center|website=Digital Signage Today|date=March 27, 2024|access-date=April 19, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://insights.samsung.com/2024/03/18/skinwalker-ranchs-mysteries-unveiled-through-samsung-tech/#jump2|title=Skinwalker Ranch’s mysteries unveiled through Samsung tech|website=Samsung|date=March 18, 2024|author=Karen Stealey|access-date=April 19, 2024}}

VirnetX has developed products including VirnetX One, War Room, VirnetX Matrix and Gabriel Connection Technology.{{Cite web |title=VHC.N - {{!}} Stock Price & Latest News {{!}} Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/companies/VHC.N/profile |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=www.reuters.com}}{{Cite web |title=Check out VirnetX Holding Corp's stock price (VHC) in real time |url=https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/VHC |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=CNBC |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Christian |first=Bruce |date=2023-05-15 |title=VirnetX Collaborates with Samsung |url=https://rwsmagazine.com/virnetx-collaborates-with-samsung/ |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=Remote Work Solutions |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-08-22 |title=VHC Taking Samsung Displays Into War Rooms |url=https://displaydaily.com/vhc-taking-samsung-displays-into-war-rooms/ |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=Display Daily |language=en-US}}

VirnetX One is a secure communication platform which utilizes Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) to enable private, encrypted networks between user and devices. The VirnetX One Security Platform secures HTTPS, HTTP, RDP, VNC, and SSH. VirnetX One is cross-platform and runs on Microsoft Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and Linux.{{cite web|url=https://www.aboveparadvisors.com/apa-cybersecurity-platinum-suite-powered-by-gabriel|title=APA’s Cybersecurity Platinum Suite powered by Virnetx|website=Above PAR Advisors|access-date=June 14, 2024}}

War Room is a security product which validates and certifies access to select users, securing domains and authenticated devices prior to enabling access to a secure video conferencing platform.{{cite web|url=https://solutionsynergy.net/service/virnetx-war-room/|title=Secure Video Conferencing|website=Solution Synergy|access-date=April 19, 2024}} The product is backed by over 194 patents to protect critical data.{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/business/virnetx-releases-secure-conferencing-solution-to-thwart-zoombombing/|title=VirnetX releases secure conferencing solution to thwart ‘Zoom bombing’|website=Venture Beat|date=March 1, 2022|author=Tim Keary|access-date=April 19, 2024}}

Launched in 2022, VirnetX Matrix was originally designed to protect and secure communications for the United States Intelligence Community. VirnetX’s Secure Domain Name Technology removes users’ public internet communications from the public domain, making applications protected by VirnetX Matrix only visible and accessible to authorized users and their authenticated devices{{cite web|url=https://ciosea.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/security/virnetx-launches-matrix-to-secure-internet-applications-and-services/90711034|title=VirnetX launches Matrix to secure internet applications and services|website=CIO|date=April 8, 2022|access-date=April 19, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://solutionsynergy.net/service/virnetx-matrix/|title=Stealth Network Access Security|website=Solution Synergy|access-date=April 19, 2024}}

Gabriel Connection Technology facilitates communications on Internet-based applications, such as instant messaging, Voice over IP, and file transfers, using secure domain names.{{cite web|url=https://www.cowen.com/transactions/virnetx-holding-corp-8-31-2018/|title=VIRNETX HOLDING CORP|website=TD Cowen|access-date=June 14, 2024}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://virnetx.com/ VirnetX official webpage]

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