RIM engages Motorola in court battle over patents

Research In Motion (RIM) is suing Motorola over several patents used for wireless devices such as RIM's BlackBerry email devices and Motorola's Razr smart phones, an Associated Press report said.

The Associated Press report said company is asking a court in Dallas to declare Motorola is breaching commitments it made to license essential patents to competitors on a fair and reasonable basis.

RIM also says in a court filing that Motorola is violating nine RIM patents and is breaching a 2003 agreement by refusing to negotiate reasonable terms for an extension beyond January 2008, the report added.

The Canadian company's filing came one day after Motorola filed a suit against RIM, claiming it violated some of Motorola's patents, the Associated Press report said.

The two companies, each innovators in wireless communications, have both collaborated and competed with each other over the years, the report added.

However, Motorola was a pioneer in voice communications while RIM has focused on data communications, the report said.

The stakes could be huge, since the two companies compete in a multibillion-dollar global industry. The success of the BlackBerry and Pearl smart phones has enabled RIM to become one of Canada's most valuable companies.

The Associated Press report said RIM's claim, which has not been tested in court, says Motorola is trying to subvert an established standards-setting practice 'in order to injure RIM, a successful competitor and rival.'