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I'm not sure how US patent law works but, assuming it's broadly the same as the UK, I think RIM may have fallen into the classic trap here. Many businesses "over-specify" their patent claim. The right - but VERY expensive - thing to do is to employ specialist patent lawyers. The really, really wrong thing to do is to get your Techies to write the application. The former shoot for as "loose" a definition as they can get away with (eg "e-mailing on the move") - the latter are so proud of HOW they accomplished their wonderful development that they put ALL the details in (eg "oval keys").
From a users point of view the former is a real threat to "free trade" the latter is pretty much insignificant ("damm - we'll have to use square keys then - oh well").
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