VirnetX lower after denied appeal in patent fight with Apple

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has affirmed two final written decisions of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board that were appealed by VirnetX (VHC), according to ruling posted to the court’s site. The ruling states: "In this consolidated appeal, VirnetX Inc. appeals from two final written decisions of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board holding the challenged claims of U.S. Patent Nos. 6,502,135 and 7,490,151 unpatentable… VirnetX also challenges Black Swamp IP, LLC’s joinder. We affirm. VirnetX owns the ‘135 and ‘151 patents. Both are generally directed to a ‘secure mechanism for communicating over the internet.’" Apple (AAPL) is identified in the court document along with Mangrove Partners Master Fund, LTD. as the two appellees. In early afternoon trading, shares of VirnetX, which had been higher earlier in the session, are down about 12% to $1.50. Reference Link