Dec. 13, 2006

RIM (Research In Motion) has filed a lawsuit claiming Samsung's BlackJack smartphone name is too close to its BlackBerry brand.

RIM stated in its lawsuit that the BlackJack name "constitutes false designation of origin, unfair competition and trademark dilution."

Research in Motion is seeking a court injunction to stop Samsung from selling the device.

RIM filed its lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The company could not be reached for comment.

Cingular Wireless is currently the exclusive provider of the Samsung BlackJack handset, which debuted earlier this month.

RIM's BlackBerry Pearl, the company's first device aimed specifically at the consumer market, is a BlackJack rival. Cingular also offers the Pearl to its customer base.

Cingular declined to comment specifically on the suit pending between RIM and Samsung.

"It wouldn't be appropriate for us to comment beyond saying that we continue to sell the BlackJack," said Cingular spokesman Mark Siegel.

Source: Wireless Week