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Apple Loses Patent Case

It’s a big payday for a company that accused apple of stealing its patents.

A patent refers to a document that grants exclusive rights to a person or company who invents something new -- that means no one else can use or sell that idea or product.

A jury has ordered apple to pay $626 million to the company "Virnetx." the ruling is based on a legal fight that started more than three years ago. In 2012, Virnetx accused apple of violating four of its patents with its apps like i-message and facetime. The jury back then found apple guilty and ordered the company to pay $368 million. Apple appealed the case and won on a technicality.

The case was retried and now the jury says apple owes the company even more money. Apple has since revised its i-message, facetime and other software so that it avoids anything covered by Virnetx's patents.

Instructional Links

Website: United States Patent and Trademark Office

http://www.uspto.gov/patent

Website Article: StopFakes.gov, What is a Patent?

http://www.stopfakes.gov/learn-about-ip/patents/about