Research in Motion shares tank as Dutch firm sues over patents
A DUTCH semiconductor company said yesterday it had filed a patent infringement suit against Research In Motion, adding to the BlackBerry maker’s troubles and sending its shares tumbling almost ten per cent.
An affiliate of NXP Semiconductors alleges that versions of RIM’s BlackBerry phone and PlayBook tablet infringed on patents issued to it between 1997 and 2008. The patents in question relate to design, data transmission and other features of the devices.
NXP demands a halt to the alleged infringements and seeks to recover what it claims as lost profit, reasonable royalties and triple damages for willful infringements.
It has not specified a dollar amount it is seeking from the struggling smartphone maker, which declined to comment yesterday.