RIM-Interdigital Patent Deal Helps Clear Runway for BB10

As Research In Motion gears up for the looming debut of BlackBerry 10 — arguably its most important product launch ever — the company is clearing the field of anything that might unnecessarily complicate or undermine it.

To that end, RIM this week expanded its patent agreement with InterDigital to include the wireless research company’s 4G, LTE and LTE-Advanced technology. The deal allows RIM to integrate InterDigital’s tech into its BlackBerry 10 handset portfolio with the company’s blessing and ensures that there will be no unexpected IP licensing issues following BB10’s launch on January 30 — licensing issues like those Samsung, Nokia, ZTE and Huawei find themselves facing today.

InterDigital filed complaints against all four companies with the U.S. International Trade Commission, alleging they engaged in unfair trade practices by selling 3G and 4G wireless devices that violate seven InterDigital patents.