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Governments Take Sides In Blackberry Patent Suit

Posted by timothy on from the please-don't-call-it-a-free-market dept.

geekboy_x writes "The recent court decision giving NTP a big chunk of Research In Motion's Blackberry profits has attracted an unusal participant - the government of Canada. The original ruling, where RIM was judged to have violated 5 of NTP's patents, has now been stayed pending appeal, and the Canadian government has filed a motion in the U.S. court to request a full re-hearing. At stake is not only money, but the rights to sell and service any Blackberry-like product."

7 of 311 comments (clear)

  1. Why Is It Called a "Blackberry"? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Its not black and its not berry-shaped.

  2. Gods by kneecarrot · · Score: 2, Funny

    I am from the small city of Waterloo, Canada (population 70000 people) where RIM has its headquarters. Let me tell you that they are incredibly important to this city. It's basically become an institution. The city has paid for the entire parking lot and street where RIM is located to be fitted with heating pipes so that there is never snow on the road. There is a city-wide holiday every October to commemorate the founding of the company. Everyone has the day off and there is a parade that ends in the RIM Performance Theatre where the CEO addresses the crowd, live bands play, and food is dished out. It's almost wacky... RIM employees actually have all their taxi expense paid for by the city. It may seem strange, but the value of RIM for the local economy and pride of Canadian citizens is difficult to overstate.

    --

    I always save my last mod point to mod up a good troll. You people are too serious.

    1. Re:Gods by kneecarrot · · Score: 2, Funny

      I was born and raised in Waterloo. Trust me, every last word of that post is true. Well, not counting the stuff about RIM. Although, one time, during Oktoberfest, I saw a really drunk guy waving his Blackberry around. It was definitely celebratory.

      --

      I always save my last mod point to mod up a good troll. You people are too serious.

  3. Blackberry ambiguity by Anonymous+Cowherd+X · · Score: 2, Funny

    Would it have killed you to explain you were referring to the BlackBerry wireless platform or to at least add a link to RIM (Research in Motion)? With all the patent related news about Monsanto lately some people might actually think you were referring to actual blackberries, the fruit.

  4. get to the shelter! by to_kallon · · Score: 1, Funny

    call me crazy, call me overreacting, call me clairvoyant, but i forsee a U.S.-Canada war coming. this could be the big one, folks!

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    The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.
    -Oscar Wilde
  5. Re:Canadian Government... by chris_mahan · · Score: 2, Funny

    Beware, I hear they will also be killing those who make half-jokes about National Security Policy.

    read my sig.

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    "Piter, too, is dead."

  6. Re:live by the sword, die by the sword by jdew · · Score: 2, Funny

    You mean, you got a R.I.M job!