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| RIM pay $450m to settle BlackBerry lawsuit |
| Wednesday, March 16, 2005 at 22:47 by Kathleen Hill |
Research In Motion (RIM), manufacturers of popular email device BlackBerry, and NTP Inc. today announced that they have signed a binding term sheet that resolves all current litigation between them.
A patent lawsuit started back in August 2003 when NTP started proceedings against Research in Motion. The ensuing legal battle saw NTP demanding sums of over $53 million in damages for patent infringement and NTP also demanded an injunction against RIM to prevent further devices being made in the US.
As part of the resolution, NTP will grant RIM and its customers an unfettered right to continue its BlackBerry related wireless business without further interference from NTP or its patents.
This resolution relates to all NTP patents involved in the current litigation as well as all current and future NTP patents. The resolution covers all of RIM's past and future products, services and technologies and also covers all customers and providers of RIM products and services, including wireless carriers, distributors, suppliers and ISV partners.
Under the terms of the resolution, RIM will have the right to grant sublicenses under the NTP patents to anyone for products or services that interface, interact or combine with RIM's products, services or infrastructure. The resolution permits RIM and its partners to sell its products, services and infrastructure completely free and clear of any claim by NTP, including any claims that NTP may have against wireless carriers, ISV partners or against third party products that use RIM's BlackBerry Connect / BlackBerry Built-In technology.
RIM will pay NTP $450 million in final and full settlement of all claims to date against RIM.
RIM declined to comment, stating only that additional details will be provided on RIM's Q4 results, scheduled for April 5.
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| A fundamental falicy is pointed out ONE MORE TIME: communication should never be proprietary. Protocols and formats must be open in availability, source and cost. Anything less restricts individual freedom and inhibits technological progress. Always has, always will.
Patents are blatently misused to eliminate competition, which inhibits innovation. Software and protocol patents should not be allowed to exist. Who wants a monopoly on who is allowed to create or think?
The parties to this settlement violate your rights because what they have done is to agree to share controls NEITHER should have over you and your right to communicate.
bbaston |
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| Lawsuits in Motion deserves this. Truly poetic justice. RIM sux! |
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| Don't you mean "Rip-Offs In Motion"? I think it is terrible when other people's ideas are exploited, and am glad that the government stepped in to protect US Patents! |
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| From both sides it is greed. Correct me if I am wrong but this NTP just buys up patents. The patents just sit there, they don't anything. It seems they hit the jackpot here and will become extremely wealthy for not doing anyting. The American Drean |
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