Western Digital, a leading data storage provider, has been ordered to pay $315.7 million in damages for infringing on a data security patent, according to a California federal jury ruling on Friday.
The verdict stems from a 2016 lawsuit filed by SPEX Technologies, which accused Western Digital of violating its patent covering data encryption technology. The patent, originally developed by Spyrus—a cryptography company focused on secure communication—was later acquired by SPEX.
The jury found that several of Western Digital’s self-encrypting hard drives, including products like Ultrastar, My Book, and My Passport, unlawfully used SPEX’s patented technology. SPEX’s attorney, Marc Fenster, celebrated the ruling, calling it a “vindication” of Spyrus co-founder Sue Pontius and her efforts to defend the encryption innovation.
Pontius expressed her gratitude to the jury for their decision, while a spokesperson for Western Digital stated that the company plans to contest the verdict through post-trial motions and potentially appeal the decision.
This isn’t the first time Western Digital has faced legal troubles over patent infringement. In July, a separate jury from the same court in Santa Ana ordered the company to pay over $262 million for infringing patents related to hard drive storage capacity.
Western Digital continues to deny the allegations and is preparing for further legal battles.
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