Fortinet has filed a petition with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to re-examine a patent held by Trend Micro Security.
Trend Micro’s patent in question, 5,623,600, covers the virus detection and removal processes. The patent has led to skirmishes in the security industry, in particular, a battle between Trend Micro and Barracuda Networks. Fortinet says its petition identifies the technique that makes Trend Micro patent invalid.
Fortinet Trend Micro has fought before. Trend Micro sued Fortinet in 2004 and the two companies settled a patent dispute in 2006. Legal peace did not last long. Fortinet, Trend Micro sued again, after a 2008 and 2009, in January of mourning for Fortinet believes the patent license in 2006 to be valid. Fortinet, Trend Micro also claimed threatened its customers.