Court Postpones Patent Lawsuit between Motorola and RIM

June 17, 2009

A federal court postponed Motorola’s patent infringement lawsuit against Blackberry maker Research in Motion Ltd. (RIM) to allow the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) to examine the dispute between the two companies.

In a court ruling, the judge said that PTO’s expertise can narrow the patent lawsuit claims and it can even speed up the litigation process.

Meanwhile, Motorola said in its petition to the court that postponing the case may only allow RIM to continue its infringing activities which can cost economic damages to the company. However, the court ignored Motorola’s appeal.

In February 2008, Motorola charged RIM for allegedly infringing 14 of its patented technologies after negotiation in cross-licensing agreement collapsed between the two companies.

RIM also filed countersuit against Motorola and accused its rival of infringing nine of its patented technologies.