Network Signatures [NPE] filed suit against Coca-Cola, Hershey, MasterCard, Novartis, and Visa over a patent related to encrypted communications.  Network Signatures is the exclusive licensee of a patent which was issued to the US Navy in 1996.  This plaintiff has asserted the patent in more than 50 suits filed since 2007 against companies that have web sites employing SSL encryption.  Network Signatures has reached settlements with a number of companies including: Bank of America, Lowe’s Home Improvement Centers, Morgan Stanley & Co., The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation and Ace Hardware.  9/23, Central District of California, 8:2011cv01481; 8:2011cv01482; 8:2011cv01483; 8:2011cv01484; 8:2011cv01485.