Research In Motion and Motorola are suing each other over several patents used for wireless devices including RIM’s BlackBerry and Motorola’s Razr smartphones. RIM has filed a civil suit in US District court for the Northern District of Texas, while Motorola has filed suits in Texas and Delaware.
RIM alleges that Motorola is demanding exorbitant royalties for patents that Motorola claims are essential to various standards for mobile wireless telecommunications and wireless computing that RIM practices.
It is asking that a court in Dallas declare that Motorola is breaching commitments made to license essential patents to competitors on a fair and reasonable basis. It also said Motorola is violating nine RIM patents and is breaching a 2003 agreement by refusing to negotiate reasonable terms for an extension beyond January 2008.
Motorola spokesperson Jennifer Erickson said: We have not yet reviewed the complaint but based on our understanding of the matter we believe their claims are entirely without merit and Motorola intends to vigorously defend itself. Our agreement with them expired and we have been unable to reach a suitable agreement, going forward.
The move follows similar suit filed by Motorola claiming RIM violated some of its patents.
The two companies have collaborated and competed with each over the years, with Motorola concentrating on voice communications and RIM focusing on data communications.
RIM has become one of Canada’s most valuable companies with the success of its BlackBerry PDA and Pearl smartphones, while Motorola has slipped to the number-three spot in the mobile handset market, which Nokia leads, followed by Samsung Electronics.
Last month Motorola announced strategic review of its money-losing mobile devices unit.
