News, Security

John McAfee, Intel settle naming rights lawsuit

John McAfee, the creator of the popular antivirus computer software, has settled a lawsuit against Intel over his right to use his name on other projects.

John McAfee

According to Reuters, US District Judge Paul Oetken in Manhattan dismissed McAfee’s September 2016 lawsuit and a countersuit by Intel on Wednesday, five days after a settlement agreement was signed.

McAfee has reportedly sued Intel after the company warned him that using his name, including by renaming his digital gaming and cybersecurity company MGT Capital Investments Inc as ‘John McAfee Global Technologies Inc,’ would infringe its trademarks.

Intel countered by accusing McAfee of trademark infringement and unfair competition, and sought unspecified damages.

Under the settled agreement, McAfee can continue using his name as long as it’s not for or related to cybersecurity and security products and services.

However, the report said he retained the right in other contexts to use his name in advertising, promotions and presentations, including with regard to his role at McAfee Associates, which he sold to Intel for $7.7 billion in 2010.

Neither McAfee nor Intel admitted wrongdoing in agreeing to the settlement, which was amicable, according to court papers.

Intel spun off its cybersecurity division, now called McAfee LLC, in April, after agreeing to sell a 51 percent stake to private investment firm TPG Capital.

TPG later accepted a minority investment in the business from private equity firm Thoma Bravo.

 

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