Barracuda files countersuit against Trend Micro

Patent spat between two vendor intensifies as Barracuda accuses Trend Micro of infringing on three of its patents

Security appliance vendor Barracuda Networks has filed a countersuit against Trend Micro alleging it is infringing on three of its patents.

The countersuit, filed in the Court for the Central District of California, is seeking damages and an injunction on sales of the infringing products.

It comes as Barracuda continues to defend itself, the open source community and the free and open source ClamAV project, against a claim made by Trend Micro with the International Trade Commission (ITC) alleging that Barracuda infringes on one of its patents.

Dean Drako, chief executive of Barracuda Networks, said: “The reality is that Trend Micro is asking Barracuda Networks to pay for the use of the free and open source ClamAV software. We have asserted all along that Trend Micro's actions are unjust and could have serious implications against the open source community and other free and open source projects."

“Barracuda Networks would prefer to focus on innovation, not litigation, so it is unfortunate that we must defend ourselves with a

If the countersuit claim is successful, Barracuda Networks revealed it would contribute all of the net proceeds to help the open source community.

“We are grateful to the open source community, many of whom have contributed significant prior art in our ongoing case against Trend Micro,” added Drako.