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- 9mmCensor, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16Awesome. Its great to see corparations putting their money where their mouth is.
- Sizzor, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10http://www.blackberry.com/select/message/index.shtml
A Message To All BlackBerry Supporters
From:
Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO
Jim Balsillie, Chairman and Co-CEO
In the days since Research In Motion (RIM) announced a final settlement agreement that ended a lengthy and complex patent battle, we have witnessed an outpouring of public relief and excitement. We have also heard broad concern expressed about a patent system in obvious need of reform. Who knew that patent litigation and the subject of patent reform could ever become such mainstream topics of conversation?
Of course, the most significant result of our settlement agreement is to address customer concerns and unambiguously remove any perceived threat to the BlackBerry® service. Although we were prepared with contingencies and would have never let the BlackBerry service shut down, we are nonetheless pleased to put this matter behind us and remove any uncertainty from customers' minds.
You can rest assured that BlackBerry is here to stay.
As to the lingering question of why the patent system should allow such a bizarre set of circumstances to threaten millions of American customers in the first place, we share your concern. The good news is that this topic is currently receiving much more attention from policymakers and the Supreme Court and we hope the patent system will evolve to close the loopholes and become more balanced.
As we close this chapter, we extend our sincere gratitude to all BlackBerry customers, partners and other supporters for your patience and loyalty. Your support and passion for BlackBerry is an inspiration to thousands of RIM employees as we continue to move forward in leading this market and pouring our hearts and minds into innovation and customer service.
We have all seen the dramatic benefits that came as a result of the wireless revolution over the last decade. At RIM, we think this is just the beginning. BlackBerry was born many years ago as a wireless email solution. Today, BlackBerry is a full-blown platform supporting a wide array of wireless applications for business, government and the mobile lifestyle. We are thankful to be pioneers in such an exciting industry and we are committed to keeping innovation, partnerships and customers central to our vision and culture at RIM.
Once again, thank you for your support and we look forward to a very bright future together. - Godric, on 10/12/2007, -5/+14Cry me a ***** river, hypocrites. These guys didn't want patent reform when they were suing to protect their intellectual property. You win some, you lose some. You get no sympathy from me.
RIM wins patent, sues rival:
http://news.com.com/2100-1040-257801.html
RIM sues rival Good over patents:
http://news.com.com/RIM sues rival Good over patents/2100-1033_3-937395.html?tag=st.ref.goo
RIM sues Handspring, Good:
http://news.com.com/RIM sues Handspring%2C Good/2100-1040_3-958550.html?tag=st.ref.goo
Lawsuits In Motion files suit against Xerox:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/07/29/lawsuits_in_motion_files_suit/ - breakneckridge, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Bogus though it may be, as long as the same rules apply to everyone then everyone must play the same game. That's why they're trying to change the rules.
- edto, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8The current Patent System isn't too honorable, have you seen what some people are filing patents for? Right now people are abusing the patent system and it's moreso hurting the progress of technology.
- Chompy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8We definitely need patent reform, but it just doesn't seem to be a priority for lawmakers. I'm guessing the system isn't getting fixed for the same reason that we haven't seen a "loser pays" implentation for civil suits or tort reform for malpractice suits: the lawyers have a powerful lobby. They make a great living leeching off of society, and like any parasite they don't want to pulled off the host.
- edjm, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8I agree, I'm very happy to see them doing something about it and hopefully they will continue. I think it's especially interesting since RIM is a Canadian-based company.
- icefitz, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7At least RIM has a product NTP is a patent holding company nothing else. Just a group of lawyers and technical guys that buy patents up generally and and use there war chest to get more money because patent cases are expensive yet rewarding. So there are companies like NTP that find a guy who hold a patent they think they can use buy it because he does not have the resources to fight it in court, fight for a long time, profit.
- matthijs, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6I read somewhere (can't remember where though :p, so perhaps someone can verify it), that RIM also filed a lawsuit against a company that was supposedly violating their thumb-keyboard patent. That's a bit sneaky, because it's a "bogus"-patent as well (imho).
- kidlinux, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5But compare the legitimacy of RIM's patents versus NTP's.
I wouldn't know and couldn't be bothered to find out. RIM isn't complaining about the fact that they lost, they're complaining about the fact that the patents NTP held were BS to begin with, and should never have been issued. In which case there never would have been a suit brought against them.
The USPTO even agreed that the patents were BS, but it doesn't matter because all you need is one bogus patent to get the lawsuits rolling, and then no one pays attention to the validity of the patents. - metallikop, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Completely off topic (so I'm expecting a mod down) but I recently got a BlackBerry, so far I love it, but I do miss my Treo 650 and all the handy Palm software available. Anyone know of any good 3rd party software available for the BB?
- Godric, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3The middle two links didn't so try these instead.
RIM granted handheld email patent – clobbers Handspring
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/09/19/rim_granted_handheld_email_patent/
RIM Sues Good, Again
http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/1384231
Handspring to license RIM patents:
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-964549.html - kook, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I saw this in the LA Times on Tuesday as well. I didn't really think it was to urge patent reform, they just sorta mentioned it. Basically the message was "Hey we are still alive, and legal, oh and patents need reform, sorta."
As Godric posted above, Rim has a history of litigation, although from a corporate standpoint I guess its a neccessary evil if you wish to keep ahead of the competition. - Godric, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2kidlinux, patenting and liscensing is just part of the game. It's no surprise to see RIM in a fuss now that's they lost a suit. They were fine with it before when they were winning suits over oval keys placed at angles to one another and getting competitors to liscense those "innovations."
- Daem0nX, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Now don't get me wrong, I think what they are doing is neat... but look at the lawsuits filed by them towards others.
- SweetsGreen, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Screw patent reform.....
One of these days that patent I have for "The Flying Car" is going to pay off!! - PhoneGuy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I am curious.
How many people here actually have read the NTP patents, and know exactly what they claim to have patented?
I have searched the web a bit and have yet to find the actual patents posted anywhere, anyone have a link? - burke, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Unortunately, I think you pretty much have to stick with Palm (or one of those icky windows-based ones) if you want any reasonable selection of 3rd-party software.
- Ghost_MH, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The problem is, NTP's founder was working on a product when he filed those patents. He actually owned a company that worked on pagers and the like.
If I remember correctly, he also worked with various companies to try and get his whole wireless e-mail thing off the ground. After some time working on the idea, he couldn't get enough funding to really get it off the ground. When he realized he would never be able to get that funding...And he was growing old, he formed NTP with a patent lawyer and became the company they are today.
NTP's patents are valid and it was only pressure from the government that any of their patents were ever over-turned. Really...The only reason NTP sued when it did was because RIM started suing their competitors claiming they had the wireless e-mail patent. NTP complained to RIM some six years ago asking if RIM wanted to license their patent, RIM refused, and a year or two later they sued...Only now has there been any resolution to this.
How can anyone have sympathy for RIM??? These are the people that pissed off the judge by lying in court.
Also, how did NTP become as exaggerated as some people around here are claiming it to be??? They don't buy up patents...They only hold one patent...The patent for wireless e-mail. - Qwertie, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Yup. Whether or not you care about RIM, it's about damn time the problems of software patents, trivial patents, submarine patents, etc. were addressed. Note, however, that the article doesn't say exactly what kind of reforms RIM is looking for.
- Travs, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I think the transfer of a patent from the name of the original filer should be illegal.
The problems we're seeing are outrageous because people who didn't have anything to do with the patents are profiting. - carlosglz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1If you have a patent on something, you should have a working prototype or actually be in the business of producing whatever your patent is for. ***** these companies that are in the business of suing others and stifling innovation. Submitting little drawings of your idea should not hold up anymore, it is just retarded.
- Jason.Tapp, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2RIM was willing to settle when this first started but NTP wanted to add a clause to the settlement that would see NTP being allowed to collect royalties on anything else RIM would ever do even if it didn't relate to the patents held by NTP.
I do not know about you but if you have a business and your are paying royalties for one technology why should you pay royalties on products and services that do not relate to that patent.
I am glad that RIM fought this out and is continuing to push for reforms. - saleh, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Patent numbers 6067451, 6317592 and 5436960. Search from http://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/search-bool.html.
- jonnyeh, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1also, the keyboard is a physical product, NTP's so called patents were for software, which is bogus in my opinion
- stealthboy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Anyone else annoyed at articles about something fundamentally visual that don't actually have pictures in the article of the subject in question? I can't stand that.
- warnergt, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1RIM argues that patents "threaten millions of American customers."
If they had just paid up in 2002 after they lost the jury trial, there
wouldn't be a problem.
By the way, what difference does it make that NTP is
a "patent holding company?" The patent was awarded
to one of the company founders who is now deceased.
The patent office granted the patents; they didn't think
they were BS back then.
I'm hearing every lame excuse in the book.
RIM finally admitted that they lost but somehow
still can't move on. - foxhoundadmin, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1great. next, let's go after domain name trolls--those rat bastards!
- darrenford, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Could we not both protect patent holders and eliminate alot of the problems by simply requiring a patent holder to be actually developing and marketing the product, otherwise its fair game.
Oh, and eliminate software patents of course. - dededede, on 10/17/2007, -0/+0http://free-blackberry-applications.blogspot.com/
- coding, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I wish I could digg 40 times for this news. Just the concept of calling for patent reform is good.
- simplitis, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0i used to work for the uspto as an examiner, and i'd have to agree that some of the stuff that gets approved makes me speechless.
the uspto's web site should have a searchable database - felixnine, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0i love these guys.
http://www.business.mcmaster.ca/MBAA/artman/publish/article_82.shtml - alexandreracine, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1First : In the US, you can patent anything under the sun. That is ridiculous.
Second : Microsoft hold the patent to double clic. Yes, that is right, doucle clic. This means that they could go in court against anyone who use doucle clic in their applications. That too is ridiculous.
I think that at some point, the US patent office was told by the President :"Allow to patent anything, we need cash". - xjqcf, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0@Simplitis, you're an ex-examiner and ask for an online searchable database? Then what do you call http://www.uspto.gov/patft/index.html ? This is full text, fielded search for patents and published applications published from the present back to about the 1970s (maybe earlier) Surely you mean some other kind of database?
Hell I recall we had (in-house) text search (Provided by Chem Abstracts, the original contractor for the APS project) back before I left in 1991, and the public could access it (albeit, at the time, for a fee). - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Yeah, suddenly they care about the ***** patent system when it's them getting bit in the ass.
- Godric, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Exactly. I don't care if the patent-holder is a highschool student, a corporation, a lunatic living in a basement or a patent-holding company. You don't lose your rights as an intellectual property owner based on your status or category.
- tryferos, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1I think there should definitely be some sort of reform. If NTP's patents were valid, then by all means RIM should have to pay for infringing and to be allowed to use products in accordance with the patent. It just seems that over half a billion dollars was an extreme amount to have to pay though....
- thirdtenor, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1I'd be very curious to see their idea of reform.
- giloron, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1Reported as lame. What good is an article about an ad without a picture of the ad.
- MadModdr, on 10/12/2007, -9/+2Just another company trying to make money from manipulating an otherwise honorable system. Makes me sick.
- maczealot, on 10/12/2007, -9/+2I think this article summary is a bit trollish. I work as a contractor for a cell provider in the states and it has been intimated to me that NTP had some legitimate patents.
Not that the patent system doesn't need to be reformed, it surely does. But to equate what NTP was doing with actual "Patent Trolls" like SCO is disingenuous at best and self-defeating at worst.
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