Canadian firm Research in Motion, maker of the popular handheld phone device that is BlackBerry, has been rocked by a 4 year old lawsuit that has resurfaced.  It is potentially so grave that industry watchers are openly questioning the firms survival propsects. Gartner, for example, has warned its customers to avoid deploying or investing in BlackBerry until the case is settled.

The case goes back to 2002 when the intellectual property frim NTP launched a lawsuit against RIM, the basis of which was a patent on a handheld email device.  The lawsuit initially resulted in a deal between the two companies that was fixed in March last year.  Under the terms of this deal RIM would pay NTP around $450 to settle this claim,  However this deal was basically wreckied when a VIrginia Court rules that the arrangement was not enforceable. RIM did receive a glimmer of light when the district judge ordered a re-examinsation of NTP's patents.  We wait waith bated breath as RIM and NTP are back in court during the month of February 2006.......

posted Wednesday, 1 February 2006