The dispute began in May 2002 when Good Technology, then a
start-up, went to court to seek a declaratory judgement that its
software did not infringe upon a Research in Motion (RIM)
patent.
The patent covered the redirecting of information between a host
system, such as an office PC or server, and a mobile device such as
a PDA, while maintaining a single, existing e-mail address and
mailbox.
RIM responded a month later with a suit alleging that Good
Technology's wireless goods and services infringed four RIM
patents. In July 2002, RIM filed an additional separate lawsuit
alleging that Good Technology had infringed on a portion of RIM's
Copyright Portfolio associated with the user interface on RIM's
line of BlackBerry Wireless Handhelds.
In July 2002, RIM filed another lawsuit against Good Technology
alleging that the company had engaged in unfair competition, false
advertising, trade mark infringement and trade mark dilution
resulting in the unlawful use of the RIM and BlackBerry marks.
In September 2002, RIM filed yet another suit, alleging the
misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of contract, tortious
interference with contracts and prospective economic relations,
unfair competition, unjust enrichment, breach of implied duty of
good faith and fair dealing, and civil conspiracy.
The companies announced on Friday that they have settled their
disputes and that the lawsuits will be dismissed. RIM and Good
Technology have entered a royalty-bearing license agreement whereby
RIM will receive a lump sum settlement during the first quarter of
fiscal 2005 as well as ongoing quarterly royalties. Other terms of
the agreement were not disclosed.
Despite this success, RIM faces a serious challenge to its
survival, as it awaits a US Patent and Trademark Office review of
patents owned by software company NTP. It successfully sued RIM for
infringement of these patents in 2002 and won an injunction. If NTP
wins the USPTO review, the injunction takes effect and RIM will be
forced to stop selling its Blackberry devices, unless it can reach
settlement terms with NTP.
