Security software giant Network Associates Inc has filed a patent infringement suit against intrusion detection outfit Internet Security Systems Inc. The suit, filed in Federal Court for the Northern District of California, alleges that ISS’ flagship product, RealSecure, violates patent claims issued for intrusion detection technology now owned by Network Associates. Network Associates is seeking undisclosed monetary damages, including triple damages for anything judged to be willful infringement, and an injunction that would prevent ISS from making, using, marketing or selling RealSecure, or any other infringing products. The patent in question is described as relating to a method and system for detecting intrusion into and misuse of a data processing system. Network Associates acquired the patent through its $300m acquisition of Trusted Information Systems Inc in February (CI No 3,354). ISS has dismissed the suit as frivolous and hinted that it may countersue over remarks about the suit by Network Associates executives before it was even filed. News of the suit comes just a day after Network Associates launched an all out assault on RealSecure’s market share by offering its competing product CyberCop Scanner and training free to resellers and consultants throughout North America in order to allow them to offer security auditing services for their major customers. In announcing the move, Network Associates took a direct swipe at ISS by saying that its competitors have built the majority of their revenues by charging inflated prices for their security products with limited support for channel partners.
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