January 31, 2006

Research In Motion Ltd. (RIM) finally won a victory in the courtroom, but not the big win it was hoping for.

The BlackBerry maker said the federal patent court in Germany ruled in its favor.

It has effectively rejected all patent claims from Luxembourg-based InPro Licensing S.A.R.L.

InPro, which had maintained that certain BlackBerry products had infringed on its German patents, may appeal the decision to the German Federal Supreme Court, RIM said.

Although the ruling is good news for RIM, the company still faces a patent battle in the United States with patent-holding company NTP Inc.

RIM is set to appear in a U.S. district court in Virginia next month in its long-running legal battle with NTP Inc. The hearing could ultimately lead to a shutdown of RIM's service in the United States.

Shares of the Canadian developer jumped $2.12 to $67.88 on the Nasdaq following German patent victory.

Source: RCR