Can RIM Survive NTP's Patent Lawsuit?

[Mike Temporale]

http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000723023822/

"A few months back NTP won their patent lawsuit against RIM and were granted an injunction that prevented RIM from selling, making, or servicing BlackBerrys here in the United States. Obviously sort of messed with RIM’s main business, which, you know, consists of selling, making, and servicing BlackBerrys. RIM was able to save themselves from oblivion by immediately getting the injunction stayed pending appeal, and yesterday they got half of what they wanted. The US Court of Appeals vacated the injunction (which means RIM can keep selling BlackBerrys for right now), but also upheld an earlier court’s ruling that RIM infringed on eleven of NTP’s patents, so unless they can get NTP’s patents overturned they’re going to have to figure out some sort of licensing arrangement with them in order to keep doing business in this country."



I can't see RIM winning this lawsuit. They are going to owe NTP a large amount of coin for products shipped to date. Add that to the licensing deal that will permit them to continue to sell BlackBerry's and I think we could see RIM in some serious cash flow problems. Maybe we'll be looking at NTP BlackBerrys in the future. :wink: :lol:

[Mike Temporale]

http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000723023822/

"A few months back NTP won their patent lawsuit against RIM and were granted an injunction that prevented RIM from selling, making, or servicing BlackBerrys here in the United States. Obviously sort of messed with RIM’s main business, which, you know, consists of selling, making, and servicing BlackBerrys. RIM was able to save themselves from oblivion by immediately getting the injunction stayed pending appeal, and yesterday they got half of what they wanted. The US Court of Appeals vacated the injunction (which means RIM can keep selling BlackBerrys for right now), but also upheld an earlier court’s ruling that RIM infringed on eleven of NTP’s patents, so unless they can get NTP’s patents overturned they’re going to have to figure out some sort of licensing arrangement with them in order to keep doing business in this country."



I can't see RIM winning this lawsuit. They are going to owe NTP a large amount of coin for products shipped to date. Add that to the licensing deal that will permit them to continue to sell BlackBerry's and I think we could see RIM in some serious cash flow problems. Maybe we'll be looking at NTP BlackBerrys in the future. :wink: :lol:

[Kris Kumar]

This is going to delay the availability of the BlackBerry Connect software for Microsoft Smartphones (Motorola MPx220). :-(

And if NTP wins the lawsuit then we may never see it. :cry:

[Jerry Raia]

I'm sure they are great devices but man are they ugly.