News
Issue #2002 - 43 (November 2002)
(Updated Nov. 13, 2002)

ACQUISITIONS, MERGERS & AGREEMENTS

RIM Does a Hat Trick This week - Licenses Software to Handspring, Palm and Nokia

RIM & Nokia
Espoo, Finland and Waterloo, Canada – Nokia and Research In Motion Limited (RIM) announced that they have signed a BlackBerry™ software licensing agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, RIM has granted Nokia the right to use and distribute certain BlackBerry software in conjunction with Nokia products on a global basis.

"As the world's leading mobile phone manufacturer, we understand the power that mobility and messaging have when combined, especially for corporate customers. By signing this software licensing deal with RIM, we are able to provide another compelling option for mobile professionals to manage their email while on the move," said Erik Anderson, Senior Vice President, Nokia Mobile Phones.

RIM and Handspring
Research In Motion (RIM) and Handspring Inc. announced that they have signed an agreement in principle setting out the fundamental terms under which RIM with license certain RIM keyboard patents to Handspring. Specific terms of the royalty-bearing license were not disclosed. RIM has agreed to dismiss its pending litigation against Handspring following the execution of a definitive agreement. (Source: Dow Jones Newswires) 

RIM and Palm
Research In Motion Limited (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) and Palm, Inc.’s Solutions Group (Nasdaq: PALMD) today announced that they have signed an agreement in principle setting out the fundamental terms under which RIM will license certain RIM keyboard patents to Palm. Specific terms of the royalty-bearing license were not disclosed.

“RIM continues to license its patents and technologies to reputable companies to expand the market opportunities for its industry-leading research and development,” said Jim Balsillie, Chairman and Co-CEO at Research In Motion. “This agreement with Palm is a result of RIM’s ability to innovate and deliver proven and popular mobile solutions such as BlackBerry™.”

“The coupling of RIM’s keyboard technology in our upcoming Tungsten W wireless handheld with the wealth of software applications available for Palm handhelds helps us deliver versatile and innovative wireless products to mobile professionals and enterprises,” said Todd Bradley, President and CEO, Solutions Group at Palm, Inc. “With this agreement, we’re both working to expand the wireless marketplace and provide people with critical information on the go.”

RIM and Good Technology
Meanwhile amongst announcement of all these agreements, the bitter battle between Research In Motion (RIM) and Good Technology heads to another court hearing November 15. RIM, attempting to protect its intellectual property, says Good misappropriated some of its trade secrets including the prices some customers paid and the support terms they received. Good says the information in dispute did not belong to RIM, and therefore could not be its trade secret. RIM also says that Good contacted the customers and instructed them to modify the RIM software on their BlackBerry devices with software from Good, which violates RIM's license agreement. Good Technology says the customers were not modifying RIM's software, they were deleting it. (Source: Dow Jones Newswires) 

For more information: http://www.rim.net

MobileInfo Comments and Advisory:  It appears to us (non-lawyer professionals) that RIM has prevailed with three major players in our industry - enough vindication of its case. Their IP arguments seem to make sense. Good Technology should settle with RIM and move on to build additional value in its server software by supporting more devices. That is a stronger business strategy than fighting in courts. This way, customers will be served, RIM will be rewarded for its IP and there will be greater competition that will spur RIM to be more innovative. Perhaps RIM should learn from Palm - create two divisions and start licensing its software.  You can not be a billion dollar company by selling just one device, howsoever popular it might be. Long-term interests of RIM are in this strategy, we think. We predict RIM will move in this direction. 

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