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The BlackBerry Infringing on Other Technologies?

Posted by samzenpus on from the norhing-is-new dept.

windwaker writes "The maker of the popular BlackBerry waits to see if he's infringing on eight other patents. If this is true, future BlackBerrys will have to be licensed differently, to compensate for the infringement."

6 of 107 comments (clear)

  1. uh... by hamburger+lady · · Score: 4, Insightful

    At the same time, the U.S. Patent Trademark Office is reviewing the last of the eight patents, which may end up making a stronger case for NTP in the long run, according to one attorney.

    seeing as how the PTO has soundly rejected NTP's patents so far (the ones that have been reexamined and made public), i don't quite see where someone would get the opinion that such would make a stronger case for NTP.

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    Is this the MPAA? Is this the RIAA? Is this the DMCA? I thought it was the USA!
  2. And patents are a good thing because...? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I love it when truly innovative companies are stiffled by patent squatter.

    Uck

  3. My routine by udderly · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This is what I do...EVERY DAY

    6:30 AM -- Get up
    6:31 AM -- Go to the bathroom
    6:32 AM -- Get coffee
    6:35 AM -- Open Firefox, go to /. and read that there's a new patent infringment case

    Seriously, what's it going to take for this patent situation to be fixed? Or maybe it won't since trial lawyers are the #1 contributors to politicians.

  4. A bit too late by BlackberryCool · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What's wrong with C|NET, they are fairly late on the RIM vs NTP case. The USPTO has already rejected 7 out of the 8 patents held by NTP.

    Globe and Mail Article on the patents being rejected.

  5. Re:Blackberries by Remlik · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Strangly my expierence with Blackberry has been the complete opposite.

    The BES server integrated seemlessly into my exchange and SQL server. Worked right out of the box. There was a problem syncing Outlook 2003 but Service Pack 3 for the desktop software (now up to version 4) fixed that. My company has 20 blackberries and not one of them has been broken by the end user. We have had 2 with bad flash roms which caused them to lock up at random times but they were replaced under warranty. I have personally dropped my blackberry from heights of 5ft or more to concrete and blacktop more than a dozen times. Got some road rash but no real damage. We have been using these devices both in the US and internationally for more than a year and all 20 users are Berry berry satisfied. :)

    YMMV I guess.

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    Apple free since 1990!
  6. Bad News.... by zappepcs · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I hate to break the news, but the RIM/Blackberry has a patent on the arched keyboard it has. This prevents any other wireless handheld maker from using anything but the less than ergonomic square keyboard layout. Now, having patents can be good, and I'm not saying there isn't value in this one, but I do think that its time for patent holders to stop crying foul all the time. Mediation before litigation, and let the public (via /.-like metamoderation) decide what is fair and what isn't. After all, protecting innovation is one of the tennents of the patent system. The government is also meddling with the marketplace in order to foster competition and quality pricing.... but I think they stifle it more often then foster it. Time for public opinion to be more involved in the making of patent issuance and infringement mediation.

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