Just when it seemed that things couldn’t get any worse for Blue Coat (with their security flaws, sinking stock valuation, and failed marketing campaigns), they did. What can happen next to this company which was at one time in the early history of the Internet a leader in Web caching? Answer: a patent infringement lawsuit.
Check this out:
“eSoft, Inc. Files Patent Infringement Lawsuits Against Five Companies Seeking Damages Related to Software Management System
Claims Filed Against Astaro, Barracuda Networks, Blue Coat, Fortinet, and SonicWall for Violating eSoft’s Software Management System Patent
Broomfield, Colo. March 14, 2006 eSoft, Inc., a leading vendor of integrated Internet security and content management solutions, announced today that it has filed patent infringement lawsuits in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado against Astaro Corporation, Barracuda Networks, Blue Coat, Fortinet and SonicWall for the infringement of U.S. Patent No. 6,961,773 relating to software management technology.
Titled “System and Method for Managing Application Service Providers,” the patent is directed to software management systems and, more particularly, to systems and methods for selecting, ordering, installing, managing, updating, and if necessary, uninstalling software applications provided to an entity by one or more application service providers or other sources. eSoft was awarded the patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on November 1, 2005.
eSoft is seeking to stop the companies from marketing, selling, using or otherwise infringing the patent and also seeks damages relating to their unauthorized use of eSoft’s patented technology.
“eSoft has invested heavily in its software management system technology,” said Jeff Finn, CEO of eSoft. “We are seeking to protect our vital corporate assets and development investments by taking legal action against companies that we believe are infringing this patent.”
(Source: http://www.esoft.com/company/press_detail1.cfm?ID=102)
My advice is that if you are a current Blue Coat customer, then consider your current devices as EOL and consider upgrading to ISA firewall and Web proxy servers. ISA provides a higher level of security, better integration with your current Windows management structure, and a much higher performance/price ration than Blue Coat. If you’re not a current Blue Coat customer, then consider putting the ISA firewall and Web proxy server on the top of your list for evaluation.
HTH,
Tom
Thomas W Shinder, M.D.
Site: www.isaserver.org
Blog: http://blogs.isaserver.org/shinder/
Book: http://tinyurl.com/3xqb7
MVP — ISA Firewalls