Cyber security has become an important consideration for individuals and organisations alike. These days’ data thefts, confidential information thefts and trade secrets misappropriations are on rise and companies owning precious intellectual property rights are very particular in protecting the same.

In real and offline world the IP can be closely safeguarded. However, in cyberspace the protection of IP and confidential information requires extra and cumbersome efforts. Initially it was thought that a password would allow only the legitimate individual and organisation to access the confidential information.

However, with the growing cyber crimes and cyber attacks, this single authentication mechanism has failed to cope up with the contemporary IP protections. In order to protect the intangible properties more appropriately, the two step verification or authentication method was suggested. In the two step verification process besides the normal password another login criterion is required to be satisfied before access is granted to an individual or organisation.

Recently, many companies providing online services rolled out the two factor authentication procedure. This has attracted unexpected attention of Kim Dotcom who claimed that these companies have violated his patent rights as he claims to have invented the security feature. Kim refers to his patent dating back to 1997 as proof for his claim, and accuses companies including Google, Facebook, and Twitter of infringing his intellectual property rights.

Kim says that initially he did not prefer to sue these companies as he believes in sharing knowledge and ideas for the good of society. But now he may sue these companies as the bitter experience of seizure/confiscation of his website by U.S. government is still fresh in his memories. This polite threat is followed by a plea to the named companies for financial support in Dotcom’s ongoing fight against extradition to the U.S.