RIM wins BlackBerry stay of execution

The judge presiding over the patent case between BlackBerry maker Research in Motion and NTP has not issued an injunction against the maker of the mobile email devices. 

NTP had asked Judge James Spencer in a hearing on Friday to issue a judgement in the case in which RIM was earlier found guilty of violating several of NTP's patents.

The patent holding company also asked for an injunction that would force RIM to suspend its mobile email service to users in the US.

While a ruling had been expected, the judge said that he needed more time. But he also indicated that he would follow the earlier jury verdict that found RIM guilty.

"I think our arguments and filings give the court a lot to consider," said Jim Balsillie, RIM chairman and co-chief executive, in an emailed statement to vnunet.com. 

Jim Balsillie continued to plea that a disruption to the BlackBerry service would hurt the public interest and claimed that this played a part in the judge's decision.

A jury found in 2002 that RIM infringed on NTP-owned patents that cover an email system on its BlackBerry mobile devices. In a prolonged court case the two parties failed to reach a settlement while RIM unsuccessfully tried to appeal against the ruling.

RIM unveiled a workaround earlier this month that it claimed will allow the company to continue its service if an injunction is granted. The company said that the workaround evades the disputed patents.

The US Patent and Trademark Office, meanwhile, has started to re-examine the NTP patents and has already invalidated several of them. A decision is on the remaining patents is expected soon.

While NTP has the option to appeal against the decisions, RIM has said that it is confident that the patents will eventually be thrown out.