NTP would drop lawsuit for 5.7% of RIM sales through 2012
With their stock having taken a nose dive following the latest ruling against them, and Wall Street encouraging a quick resolution to the matter, RIM is back at the bargaining table with NTP trying to stave off a potentially disastrous injunction. After having a proposed $450 million settlement ruled invalid by Judge James Spencer, NTP approached RIM this week about settling for a one-time payment of 5.7% of RIM's projected sales through 2012 (which is when the NTP patents in question expire). We're not so good with math 'round here, so if RIM's 2004 sales were $610 million, assuming conservative growth, how much dough does that 5.7% work out to? First person to answer correctly gets exempted from losing Blackberry service should talks break down and NTP prevail in court (note: offer not valid in the US).
