Motorola vs. RIM: Patent Wars (MOT, RIMM)

Motorola, Inc. (NYSE:MOT) is pissed at Research In Motion Limited (USA) (NASDAQ:RIMM), the latest patent technology case and RIMM could end up paying a pretty penny.

Both Motorola, Inc. (NYSE:MOT) and Research In Motion Limited (USA) (NASDAQ:RIMM) shares were down on Friday, but so was everything else.  MOT closed at $7 and change and RIMM close to $62.  

Motorola Inc. said Friday it filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission accusing Blackberry maker Research In Motion Ltd. of engaging in unfair trade practices by importing and selling RIM products that infringe on Motorola patents.

Motorola, based in Schaumburg, Ill., is seeking an order that would prohibit RIM from importing infringing products, selling infringing products that have already been imported and marketing and advertising those products.

Motorola said the patents at issue cover "early stage innovations developed by Motorola in key technology areas," including such as Wi-Fi access, application management, user interface and power management.

"Motorola will continue to take all necessary steps to protect its research and development and intellectual property, which are critical to the company's business," Jonathan Meyer, senior vice president of intellectual property law at Motorola, said in a statement.

Research In Motion, based in Waterloo, Ontario, had no comment.

SOURCE: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9DD2RE00.htm