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20 May 2019Patents

Unified Patents reveals new cybersecurity protection network

An organisation which aims to deter non-practicing entities (NPEs) has launched a new network to stop invalid patent assertions in the cybersecurity industry.

On Monday, May 20, Unified Patents, which seeks to stop NPEs by directly challenging the validity of their patents, announced it had launched its new “Cybersecurity Protection Zone” and urged cybersecurity companies of all sizes to apply for membership.

It said industry leaders including Cisco, McAfee, Rapid7 and Palo had already signed up.

Kevin Jakel, CEO of Unified Patents, said the network will aid both large and small organisations in coming together “to fight the sustained IP risk in the industry”.

The network spans all areas of cybersecurity, with members offering protection in areas such as cloud security, digital infrastructure information protection, identity and access management and IT services management.

Corey Thomas, CEO of Rapid7, said the company looked forward to working with others in the industry to reduce “frivolous patent claims” against cybersecurity companies.

Thomas said: “The cybersecurity industry works best when we collaborate to address common adversaries. Abusive patent lawsuits misuse the court system and tax economic growth and innovation in this vital industry.”

Unified Patents also said it never pays NPEs for licences, which ensures that it never “incentivises further NPE activity”.

Additionally, it said that by focusing on deterrence, it is never in a “conflicted position of negotiating a licensing deal between NPEs and defendants in litigation”.

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