Network Signatures [NPE] filed suit against Purdue Pharma, alleging that Purdue Pharma’s website infringes a patent related to network authentication using SSL encryption.  Network Signatures has filed over 60 suits since July 2006, and has reached settlements with a number of companies including: Ace Hardware, Bank of America, Lowe’s Home Improvement Centers, Morgan Stanley & Co., and The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation.  The patent-in-suit was issued to the US Navy in 1996, and the US Navy entered into an exclusive license agreement with Metrix Services in 2004.  Metrix Services transferred its entire right, title, and interest to Network Signatures in 2006.  4/3, Central District of California, Judge David O. Carter, 8:2012cv00507.