ITC to investigate claims BlackBerries violated patent
updated 04:00 pm EST, Wed December 30, 2009
RIM under investigation by ITC over patent
Prism Technologies has filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission (ITC) recently, accusing BlackBerry phone maker Research In Motion of violating its patents. The ITC on Tuesday announced it has agreed to investigate the complaint, which is the second time Prism officially complained against RIM. Prism, which says it specializes in Internet Security Technology Management and Licensing, maintains RIM violated its patent as it relates to authentication systems.
Specifically, Prism named the "BlackBerry Desktop Enterprise Activation configuration of the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution" and the "BlackBerry Administrator Enterprise Activation configuration of the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution" as the infringing features.
Edward Snyder, an analyst with Charter Equity Research, doesn't find it likely that Prism will prevail in this legal battle, saying the company is not "pre-eminent in tech." For the same reason, and because RIM has cash on hand, the phone maker's stock price isn't likely to be hurt either, Snyder believes. [via Reuters]
