Ruling overturned in Mformation patent-infringement case, RIM says

9 Aug 2012

RIM's headquarters in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

A California judge has overturned a ruling against Research in Motion (RIM) in a patent-infringement case involving mobile device management company Mformation Technologies and RIM no longer has to pay a US$147.2m jury award, RIM said.

“After considering motions presented by both parties, as well as the jury verdict, the judge determined that RIM had not infringed on Mformation’s patent,” BlackBerry maker RIM said in a statement.

“In granting RIM’s motion, the judge also vacated the $147.2m jury award, which means that RIM is not required to make any payment to Mformation.”

Mformation may appeal the judge’s ruling; however if the company successfully appeals the ruling, the jury verdict would not be reinstated and a new trial would take place instead.

Last month, a jury determined that RIM had infringed on patents owned by Mformation.

RIM had denied having done anything wrong, and did so again with this ruling.

“RIM did not infringe on Mformation’s patent and we are pleased with this victory,” said Steve Zipperstein, RIM’s chief legal officer.

Tina Costanza was a journalist and sub-editor at Silicon Republic

editorial@siliconrepublic.com