Research in Motion (RIM) has prevailed in a patent infringement legal battle in Germany, the company said today. Like its better-known fight with US intellectual property holding company NTP, RIM's tussle with Luxembourg-based InPro centres on allegations that it used, without permission, technology patented by InPro.

However, the German Federal Patent Court in Munich today ruled that InPro's German-registered patent, European Patent EP 0892947B1, is invalid.

InPro may yet appeal the decision by asking the German Federal Supreme Court to adjudicate.

InPro filed a lawsuit against RIM in November 2003. RIM countersued, asking the court to rule that InPro's patent claims were invalid. It also alleged InPro has demonstrated "threatening and grasping behaviour". ®