November 15, 2005

The U.S. Justice Department gave its opinion in the legal battle between BlackBerry maker Research In Motion and patent-holding company NTP Inc., asking a Virginia judge to protect the U.S. government's 200,000 BlackBerry users.

According to reports, the Justice Department filed its request with the court that's overseeing the patent-infringement lawsuit between NTP and RIM.

The filing warned that a BlackBerry injunction would impede government workers' access to wireless e-mail.

RIM is facing a court-ordered injunction-a ruling that would force it to stop selling its BlackBerry devices and services-over NTP's patent-infringement claims.

This is not the first time government workers have come out in favor of RIM's BlackBerry-U.S. Senators have previously said the devices are a critical part of their daily business. Indeed, the devices have earned the nickname "CrackBerry" among aficionados.

RIM is asking the court to enforce a $450 million settlement with NTP. The companies' legal battle has been raging for more than three years.

Source: RCR News