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Patent Battle Breaks Out Between Motorola, RIM

Firms exchange suits after licensing agreement disintegrates

By Jim O'Neill,  Newser User

Posted Feb 19, 2008 11:45 AM CST
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(Newser) – A patent battle has flared between BlackBerry maker RIM and Motorola after the two failed to agree on terms to renew an existing licensing agreement, reports the Wall Street Journal.The friction comes as each company is intruding into the other's turf: Motorola by building Blackberry-like email devices, RIM by developing cell phones.

RIM filed a suit Friday in Texas alleging Motorola infringed on several of its patents and charged “exorbitant” fees for licensing crucial wireless technology. Motorola, meanwhile, filed suits in Texas and Delaware Friday. It claims RIM violated its patents, including those on controlling access to new applications on a wireless device, and asks the courts to rule it didn't infringe on RIM's own patents.

A Blackberry displays the Microsoft homepage in a downtown Toronto office in this Aug. 30, 2007 file photo.
A Blackberry displays the Microsoft homepage in a downtown Toronto office in this Aug. 30, 2007 file photo.   (Associated Press)
Chairman and CEO of Motorola, USA, Edward Zander listens to questions during a working session at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Saturday Jan. 26, 2008. Business leaders and ministers will focus their attentions Saturday on the issue of trade and discuss the chances of getting a breakthrough in...
Chairman and CEO of Motorola, USA, Edward Zander listens to questions during a working session at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Saturday Jan. 26, 2008. Business leaders and ministers...   (Associated Press)
Chairman and CEO of Motorola, USA, Edward Zander holds up his mobile phone during a working session at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Saturday Jan. 26, 2008. Business leaders and ministers will focus their attentions Saturday on the issue of trade and discuss the chances of getting a...
Chairman and CEO of Motorola, USA, Edward Zander holds up his mobile phone during a working session at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Saturday Jan. 26, 2008. Business leaders and ministers...   (Associated Press)
A new Blackberry phone is seen at the Mobile World Congress, in Barcelona, Spain, Monday, Feb. 11, 2008. The congress, the largest wireless industry conference, is expected to bring together more than 50,000 industry executives from some 1,300 companies. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
A new Blackberry phone is seen at the Mobile World Congress, in Barcelona, Spain, Monday, Feb. 11, 2008. The congress, the largest wireless industry conference, is expected to bring together more than...   (Associated Press)
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cell phones • Research In Motion • BlackBerry • Motorola • RIM • wireless industry • patent infringement • patent disputes • Waterloo, Ontario • Schaumburg, Ill • US District Court

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