[Satellite TODAY 02-09-12] ViaSat has filed a federal lawsuit against Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) for breach of confidentially agreements and patent infringement, ViaSat confirmed Feb. 8.

   ViaSat claims that SS/L, which built the company’s $400 million ViaSat-1 high-capacity Internet satellite, took its ideas for new satellite architecture and used them to win new satellite construction projects, including a deal with ViaSat competitor Hughes Network Systems.

   While financial details of the lawsuit weren’t disclosed, ViaSat stated in its lawsuit that the alleged misappropriation of its technology would provide Space Systems Loral with, “more than $1 billion in ill-gotten gains.”

   In a conference call, ViaSat CEO Mark Dankberg said that he would not reveal the details of his case, but added that he felt strongly about the value of the ViaSat-1 systems design work. Loral Space & Communications CEO Michael Targoff said in a separate statement that the two companies are discussing possible resolutions to the dispute.