Apple will be making changes to VPN behavior in iOS 6.1 following a $368 million dollar judgement against the company in a patent infringement case.
Apple announced this week that it would be changing the behavior of VPN ON Demand for iOS devices using iOS 6.1 and later. Those devices with VPN On Demand configured to “Always” will instead behave as if they were configured for “Establish if needed.” VPN On Demand connections will only be established if a device cannot resolve the DNS name of a host.
Apple will release the update later this month.
This all stems from a $368 million judgement against Apple, where a Texas federal jury found that Apple had violated U.S. Patent No. 8,05,181 for a “Method for Establishing Secure Communication Link Between Computers of Virtual Private Network.” which VirnetX owns.
The software that violated the patent was the popular FaceTime app which is used on millions of iOS devices and Macs.
VirnetX filed the suit in November of 2011, the very same day it received the patent.
Apple appealed the court’s decision, but a U.S. District Court judge upheld the ruling in February, also denying Apple’s request for a retrial.
