Trend Micro patent upheld by trade judge
Computer security software company Trend Micro Inc. said Friday that an International Trade Commission judge will recommend the agency bar the import of Fortinet Inc.’s antivirus software because of patent infringement.
The Tokyo-based company said the judge determined that Fortinet’s FortiGate firewall software violates a 1997 patent held by Trend Micro covering server-based antivirus technology. The patent describes technology that has the computer remotely scan e-mail and Internet data for viruses before it reaches the desktop.
The company said the judge will recommend that the ITC issue an order banning the import of Fortinet products which infringe Trend Micro’s patents, along with a cease-and-desist order.