Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2002/11/22/patent_blow_to_lawsuits/

Patent blow to Lawsuits In Motion, Inc.

Biter bitten

By Andrew Orlowski

Posted in Software, 22nd November 2002 01:05 GMT

Litigation-happy pager company Research In Motion, Inc. received a taste of its own medicine today, as a Virginian jury found RIM had infringed patents held by NTP Inc., and awarded $23m in damages against the company.

Lawsuits In Motion will take the case to the appeals court, but before then the trial judge could increase the fine if he thinks LIM willfully infringed the patents.

The company suspended the stock, and will take a $23 million charge.

"As our legal teams continue with this litigation, we remain focused on our priorities of designing, delivering and supporting innovative wireless solutions for our customers and partners," LIM said in a statement.

LIM's "legal teams" are also continuing with litigation against Good Technologies. LIM settled with Handspring when the latter, along with Palm, licensed its revolutionary "keyboard" earlier this month.

LIM has 2,000 employees - but not all of them are lawyers. ®

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