Blackberry maker RIM settles patent dispute with Motorola

Research In Motion (RIM), the maker of Blackberry smartphones today settled all outstanding worldwide litigations regarding patent issues on wireless technology with Motorola.

Ontario, Canada-based RIM will make an up-front payment plus continuing royalties to Motorola for using its mobile technology, both companies said in a statement.

However, they did not disclose the financial details of the settlement.

Under the settlement, both companies will benefit from a long-term, intellectual property cross-licensing arrangement and cross-licenses of various patent rights, including patent rights relating to certain industry standards and certain technologies, such as 2G, 3G, 4G, 802.11 and wireless email.

In addition, both companies agreed to transfer certain patents to each other.

Schaumburg, Illinois-based Motorola, the manufacturer of wireless communications and electronic systems, had been involved in a long-running patent battle with RIM, and had said that the patented technologies are important to it as they allow for more comprehensive connectivity, a better user experience and lower product costs.

In January 2010, Motorola had filed a suit with the US International Trade Commission (ITC) accusing RIM of infringing on five of its patents. (See: Motorola files patent suit against Research In Motion)

Then in January 2010, Eastman Kodak, the imaging, photographic materials and equipment company, filed lawsuits and a compliant with the ITC against RIM and Apple, alleging that both the companies' smartphones infringed on the patents of its digital imaging technology. (See: Kodak files patent infringement suits against Apple, RIM) Kodak filed the lawsuits after having failed to resolve this issue amicably with both companies.

Kodak has licensed digital imaging technology to approximately 30 companies, including mobile handset makers like LG, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson, all of which pay royalty to Kodak.