Motorola Asks ITC for BlackBerry Block
The mobile handset market is quite the hotbed for litigation these days, isn’t it? Nokia sues Apple, accusing the company of hitching a “free-ride” on its intellectual property; Apple (AAPL) countersues Nokia (NOK), claiming it essentially copied the iPhone; and now Motorola is joining in the fun.
On Friday, Motorola filed a complaint against Research In Motion with the U.S. International Trade Commission, claiming the BlackBerry maker has infringed five of its patents related to Wi-Fi access, user interface and power and application management.
“These patented technologies are important to Motorola as they allow for more comprehensive connectivity, a better user experience and lower product costs,” Motorola (MOT) said in its complaint that requests an exclusion order to stop RIM (RIMM) from importing any BlackBerry device found to infringe its patents and from selling or marketing such devices if they have already been imported.
“Through its early-stage development of the cellular industry and billions of dollars spent on research and development, Motorola has created an industry-leading intellectual property portfolio that is respected by the entire telecommunications industry,” Jonathan Meyer, senior VP of intellectual property law at Motorola said in a statement.
“In light of RIM’s continued unlicensed use of Motorola’s patents, RIM’s use of delay tactics in our current patent litigation, and RIM’s refusal to design out Motorola’s proprietary technology,” Meyer added, “Motorola had no choice but to file a complaint with the ITC to halt RIM’s continued infringement.”
RIM has not yet commented on Motorola’s charges.