In a recent development on an intellectual property case, a Virginia federal judge increased the payment that NortonLifeLock Inc. is obligated to pay Columbia University almost threefold, due to deliberate infringement of anti-malware patents. Furthermore, the judge held the attorneys of the cybersecurity company, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP as contempt.
The litigant Columbia University had initiated the legal action against NortonLifeLock, alleging that the latter had willfully breached its anti-malware patents. The court ruled in favor of the university, subsequently led to the tripling of the jury determined payout amount.
The court decision also saw NortonLifeLock Inc.’s attorneys from Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP being held in contempt. This move underscores the seriousness of NortonLifeLock’s infringement on Columbia’s intellectual property rights and the severity of their legal counsel’s misconduct.
As this case continues to unfold, it serves as a potent reminder for corporations to thoroughly review and respect existing patents before integrating similar technologies into their products. Further details of this ongoing legal dispute can be found on Law360.