Research In Motion

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Template:Infobox Company, Template:Nasdaq |

 company_slogan = ?? |
 foundation     = Waterloo, Ontario (1984) |
 key_people     = Mike Lazaridis, Founder and co-CEO
Jim Balsillie, co-CEO
Dennis Kavelman, CFO |
 location       = Waterloo, Ontario |
 num_employees  = 3,555 (2006) |
 industry       = wireless handheld communication products |
 products       = BlackBerry, Inter@ctive pager |
 revenue        = Image:Green up.png$1.35 billion USD (2005)|
 homepage       = www.rim.com

}}

Research In Motion Limited (RIM) (Template:Tsx, Template:Nasdaq) is a Canadian wireless device company. It is best known as the developer of the BlackBerry handheld communication device.

RIM is headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, and is a sponsor of RIM Park in the north of the city. It was founded by Mike Lazaridis, who currently serves as its co-CEO along with Jim Balsillie.

Prior to the manufacture of the BlackBerry, RIM worked with RAM Mobile Data and Ericsson to turn the Ericsson-developed Mobitex wireless data network into a two-way paging and wireless e-mail network. Pivotal in this development was the release of the Inter@ctive pager 950, which started shipping in August, 1998. About the size of a bar of soap, this device competed against the SkyTel two-way paging network developed by Motorola.

The first BlackBerry was released in early 1999, using the same hardware as the Inter@ctive pager 950, and running on the Mobitex network. The first BlackBerry integrating a cell phone, as well as the first BlackBerry sold outside of North America was released in 2001, using the European GSM / GPRS standard.

Since then, RIM has released a variety of devices running on GSM, CDMA, and Motorola iDEN networks. The ubiquity of these BlackBerry devices in the corporate environment and the compulsive use of its ability to quickly send and receive e-mail has earned it the nickname "Crackberry".

RIM develops its own software for its devices, using [[C++]] and Java technology. RIM also develops and sells embedded wireless data components.

1 Patent litigation
2 Competition
3 References
4 External links

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Patent litigation

RIM v Glenayre

In 2001, Research in Motion sued competitor Glenayre Electronics<ref>Glenayre Electronics home page, http://www.glenayre.com/glenayre/|</ref> Inc for patent infringement, partly in response to an earlier infringement suit filed by Glenayre's RIM. RIM sought an injunction to prevent Glenayre from infringing RIM's patents.<ref>RIM press release, May 17, 2001, "Research In Motion Files Wireless Patent Complaint Against Glenayre Electronics, Inc.", http://www.rim.net/news/press/2001/pr-17_05_2001-02.shtml</ref> The suit was ultimately settled.

NTP v RIM

In 2002, Research in Motion was sued for patent infringement by NTP in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. During their defense, RIM attempted to show that NTP's patents were invalid as wireless email technology existed at the time NTP filed their patent applications. However, RIM performed a demonstration to the court, but utilised certain parts from after the priority dates of the patents in question and the demonstation was not considered by the jury. The patents were found valid and willfully infringed and damages were assessed at $US 23 million dollars.<ref>Barrie McKenna, Paul Waldie and Simon Avery, Globe and Mail, February 21, 2006, "Patently Absurd: The inside story of RIM's wireless war, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060221.wpatentlyabsured-rim21/BNStory/RIM2006/home?pageRequested=all&print=true</ref>. RIM appealed against the finding that the infringement was willful, but were unsuccesful (a finding of willful infringement can lead to higher damages than mere infringement).

During the appeals, RIM discovered new prior art that raised a "substantial new question of patentability" and filed for a reexamination of the patents of the NTP patents in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. That reexamination is conducted separately to the court cases for infringement, and is ongoing at April 2006 (See NTP, Inc. for details).

On 3 March 2006, RIM announced that it had settled its BlackBerry patent dispute with NTP. Under the terms of the settlement, RIM has agreed to pay NTP $612.5 million (USD) in a “full and final settlement of all claims.” In a statement, RIM said that “all terms of the agreement have been finalized and the litigation against RIM has been dismissed by a court order this afternoon. The agreement eliminates the need for any further court proceedings or decisions relating to damages or injunctive relief.”

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