By Richard Vanderford

Law360, New York (December 23, 2011, 4:38 PM ET) -- A lawsuit against Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. over a patent for U.S. Navy-invented computer encryption technology ended Wednesday after patent holder Network Signatures Inc. agreed to dismiss it.

Network Signatures, which launched its suit in California federal court in August, claimed a digital verification system used by Bristol-Myers to allow for secure communications with employees, business partners, affiliates and customers infringed U.S. patent Number 5,511,122.

U.S. District Judge Judge James V. Selna approved the dismissal of the suit after Network Signatures and Bristol-Myers filed a short stipulation...