Symantec Buys Patent In Settlement

The patent Symantec purchased from Hilgraeve covers in-transit scanning for malicious code, the Cupertino, Calif.-based security vendor said.

"This is a patent that is fundamental to several security technology defenses, including antivirus technologies, and it is an essential part of providing comprehensive protection against the growing number of threats," Symantec Chairman and CEO John Thompson said in a prepared statement.

As part of the settlement, Symantec also received licenses to Hilgraeve's remaining patents, including those related to data communications. The total cost of the patent and the licensing of the additional patents is $62.5 million.

The settlement reduces Symantec's first-quarter income by $9.5 million, the company said. Revised income for the first quarter, ended July 4, is $59 million.

Hilgraeve, Monroe, Mich., sued Symantec in 1997 for infringement of its in-transit antivirus patent.