Canadian wireless technology company Research In Motion (RIM) celebrated a small victory today as their patent infringement charge was overturned by a California judge. The decision saves the Waterloo-based company from having to pay $147.2 million in damages, a tab the struggling company must be more than happy to pass up at the moment.
The entire situation has had no shortage of drama, with the U.S. District Court of North California having originally found RIM guilty of patent infringement. The patent in question is held by Mformation Technologies Ltd., a firm that specialises in device management software for enterprises. It was not until all the available evidence was re-examined that the final decision was made to overturn the patent infringement charge surrounding a remote management patent.
The decision has to be considered a major victory for RIM, who have been bitten by similar cases in the past. As you may remember, RIM ended up being found guilty of patent infringement in 2006, resulting in them having to pay $612.5 million to patent holding company NTP.
Mobile technology patents are becoming more valuable than ever, with several large players acquiring patent portfolios and applying for others developed in house as well. The highest profile case surrounding patents at the moment is between Apple Inc. and Samsung Technologies, as the two tech giants battle over what Apple alleges is the copying of the iPhone and iPad products by the Korean Samsung.
It remains to be seen how the Apple and Samsung battle will play out, but for now RIM can breathe easy in knowing they are off the hook. Mformation still possesses the right to appeal the ruling, resulting in a whole new trial process.
Canadian B2B Customer Advocate Management Company Influitive Closes $3.75M Round
Disney Research Has Their Eyes Set on a Touchscreen REVELution
Lunches So Good Kids Can’t Ignore Them
Invigorating Ginger Smoothie
The U.K.’s Youngest Parents Ever
The new hair Jennifer Lawrence