Fortinet Cybersecurity Patents Escape Eligibility Challenge

Two Fortinet Inc. patents survived an eligibility challenge in California district court, although the judge expressed skepticism that the patents can go the distance in a suit against rival cybersecurity company Forescout Technologies Inc.

Judge Edward Chen in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California refused to invalidate the Fortinet patents in an order Monday. Forescout argues the patents, which relate to cybersecurity and network access control, cover only abstract ideas.

Still, the judge expressed doubts that the patents are valid. He noted that “Fortinet will face a higher bar in demonstrating as much as the case ...