The U.S. Supreme Court ("Supreme Court") issued an order today in the patent
litigation between Research In Motion Limited ("RIM") (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) and
NTP, Inc. ("NTP"). The Supreme Court denied RIM's petition for certiorari that
requested the Supreme Court to review issues concerning the extraterritorial reach
of U.S. patent law.
WATERLOO, Ontario-- Jan. 23, 2006--While review by the Supreme Court is generally
uncommon, RIM sought review because it believes the case raises significant national
and international issues. Today's order has no bearing on the merits of the outstanding
issues in the case before the United States District Court for the Eastern District
of Virginia ("District Court").
The District Court will set a hearing date at a later time for further proceedings
in the case based on the remand from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal
Circuit ("Federal Circuit"). The Federal Circuit decision of August 2, 2005 vacated
the injunction and damages award originally entered as a result of the District
Court trial in 2002 and remanded the case to the District Court for further proceedings.
The Federal Circuit decision also reversed or vacated the infringement finding
on 9 of the 16 litigated patent claims.
During the upcoming proceedings, the District Court will be asked to decide a
variety of matters relating to the litigation, including the impact of the Federal
Circuit's reversal of infringement findings on issues of liability and damages.
In its briefings, NTP has asked the District Court to enter a new injunction prohibiting
RIM from providing BlackBerry service and from using, selling, manufacturing or
importing its handhelds and software in the United States. The District Court
will schedule a hearing prior to deciding each of these matters. RIM maintains
that an injunction is inappropriate given the specific facts of this case, including:
- the outright rejection of all NTP patent claims in rigorous Office Actions(a)
already issued by the Patent Office, including second Office Actions in three
of the four remaining patents in the litigation that sustained rejections after
taking into account NTP's arguments seeking to overturn them;
- the ability to fully compensate NTP through ongoing royalty payments in lieu
of an injunction;
- the Supreme Court's November 28 decision to hear the appeal in the case of
MercExchange v. eBay on questions relating to the propriety of injunctions in
patent litigation;
- the lack of any practical mechanism to prevent an injunction from having an
unintended effect on users in the public and private sectors who would be, or
who the District Court determines should be, exempt; and
- public interest concerns relating to any potential suspension or interruption
of BlackBerry service in the United States.
RIM believes these factors should hold significant weight in any decisions relating
to an injunction, however it will ultimately be up to the courts to decide these
matters and there can never be an assurance of a favorable outcome in any litigation.
It is also anticipated that the reexamination of NTP's patents by the United
States Patent and Trademark Office will continue with special dispatch. All of
the NTP patent claims have now been rejected by the Patent Office in its initial
rulings in reexamination proceedings, based in part on prior art not considered
in the District Court trial in 2002.
As a contingency, RIM has also been preparing software workaround designs which
it intends to implement if necessary to maintain the operation of BlackBerry services
in the United States.
(a) The rejections of NTP patents in the initial and second Office Actions issued
by the Patent Office were based in part on prior art not considered in the District
Court trial in 2002 and were derived through a recently improved Patent Office
process whereby reexamination decisions now require thorough review and unanimous
agreement from a panel of supervisors and senior patent examiners (see press release
titled "USPTO IMPROVES PROCESS FOR REVIEWING PATENTS" at http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/speeches/05-38.htm).
About Research In Motion
Research In Motion is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative
wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. Through the
development of integrated hardware, software and services that support multiple
wireless network standards, RIM provides platforms and solutions for seamless
access to time-sensitive information including email, phone, SMS messaging, Internet
and intranet-based applications. RIM technology also enables a broad array of
third party developers and manufacturers to enhance their products and services
with wireless connectivity to data. RIM's portfolio of award-winning products,
services and embedded technologies are used by thousands of organizations around
the world and include the BlackBerry(R) wireless platform, the RIM Wireless Handheld(TM)
product line, software development tools, radio-modems and software/hardware licensing
agreements. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices
in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. RIM is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market
(NASDAQ:RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:RIM). For more information visit
www.rim.com or www.blackberry.com.
The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the
exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited. RIM, Research
In Motion and BlackBerry are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
and may be pending or registered in other countries. All other brands, product
names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their
respective owners.
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to RIM's plans
and expectations regarding its dispute with NTP and its intention to implement
a software workaround if necessary to maintain the operation of BlackBerry services
in the United States. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions
made by RIM in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends,
current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors
that RIM believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Such forward-looking statements
are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, in particular,
the inherent uncertainty regarding the outcome of any litigation, and the risks
and uncertainties and potential outcomes that are described in the risk factors
titled "The Company May Infringe on the Intellectual Property Rights of Others",
"The Company may not be able to enhance its products or develop new products at
competitive prices or in a timely manner", "Defects in the Company's products
and services can be difficult to detect" and the other risks described in the
"Risk Factors" section of RIM's Annual Information Form for fiscal 2005, which
is included in its Annual Report on Form 40-F for fiscal 2005, and Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for the
three months and nine months ended November 27, 2005 (copies of which filings
may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov). These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place
undue reliance on RIM's forward-looking statements. RIM has no intention and undertakes
no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Research In Motion (NASDAQ:RIMM) (TSX:RIM)