Setbacks in NTP Patent Case Against RIM
November 30th, 2005
BlackBerry maker Research In Motion was dealt another legal setback in a key patent infringement case on Wednesday, increasing the risks it may have to pay more to settle the claim or shut down its U.S. mobile e-mail service. U.S. District Judge James Spencer rejected RIM’s request to delay the case and refused to force patent holder NTP Inc. to accept $450 million from RIM as settlement of NTP’s patent action. Spencer said he would request briefs and set a hearing date to deal with NTP’s request for damages against RIM and an injunction that would halt U.S. sales of the BlackBerry and shut its service. RIM said in a statement that it would continue efforts to get the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case.
