Motorola asks ITC to ban BlackBerry imports

It's been a hell of a year for Motorola, but one thing's stayed the same: the company still thinks RIM is ripping off some of its patents. At least that's the sense we're getting from a new complaint Moto's just filed with the International Trade Commission alleging the BlackBerry crew is infringing five patents on "early-stage innovations" that range across WiFi, app management, UI, and power management. As per usual with ITC complaints, Motorola's asking for a ban on RIM imports -- we'd imagine a cross-complaint from RIM barring Motorola imports is coming soon. Also spotted: lawyers gleefully dancing in the streets dressed only in loinclothes made from money.

[Evan Posted Jan 22nd 2010 4:56PM]

Lol? Do they have nothing better to do than play mom to all these arguing companies?

[Mentat Posted Jan 22nd 2010 5:22PM]

@Evan

Exactly, when all this is over with Apple and Nokia will both be banned, RIM will be banned. and we are stuck between HTC or Samsung till all of this gets blown over

[Xn1nja Posted Jan 22nd 2010 7:49PM]

@Evan
One thing I have noticed is that, this year is going to be more technological than any other (Ehhh).
Just look at the mobile industry, this is the time when every phone will start looking more like a computer than anything else, and every company from MS, to Apple to Google to Nokia are working to beat the crap out of each other.
No one wants to stay behind, and if X company gets a chance to slow down the other for at least a bit, then thats exactly what we are seeing here.
Marks my words, this year will be very competitive more than any other year, companies are scrambling and going out of their usual way/routine alot more than before just to stay ahead of the race. Not that we didn't knew this, but im just sharing my two cents :)

[pointdexler Posted Jan 22nd 2010 8:18PM]

@Xn1nja
The eventual winners will still be Apple, RIM, Nokia and Google... period. Why, because they own their OS, while Motorola, HTC, LG, Samsung and the rest are just riding on them..

[Rev Posted Jan 23rd 2010 7:16AM]

@CanisMinor

For some strange reason Nokia's global marketshare hasn't moved anywhere during the last year Q1 -37%, Q2 -38%, Q3 -38%.

There is a reason Maemo takes a long time to develop. N900 is already a monster. After bit more polish, we get a real pocket sized laptop for everybody.

Just to prove a point:
Fanboy mode ON (sane people stop reading here)

N900 beats iPhone with
-screen resolution, accuracy and stulys support which is great for...
-Web browser (best thing out there by far)
-Flash support
-Stereo sound
-FM radio and transmitter
-TV-out
-faster 3D (iPhone is seriously underclocked)
-phone voice quality
-better reception
-higher resolution camera & double led flash
-higher resolution video recording
-another camera on front (video call)
-real multitasking
-integrated IM, skype, google voice etc. support
-microSD support
-infrared transmitter (remote emulation)
-keyboard
-real browser with flash support
-cable and bluetooth tethering (with warranty :)
-supports and plays almost any media format (apart from some DRM and HD res video)
-changeable battery
-more apps: OVI store, repositories, Easy Debian (openoffice, firefox, printing support, thousands of other linux apps) and every goddamn swf file out there
-Easy two direction file transfer in mass storage mode or over bluetooth
-ridiculous configurability

Guess that was long enough... answer if you want more ;)

[DirtyVegas Posted Jan 22nd 2010 4:59PM]

I could have been a patent lawyer, I sold my soul for a cheeseburger instead.

[WestCoastG Posted Jan 22nd 2010 8:09PM]

@DirtyVegas

How much do these lawyers make anyway?

[liutui Posted Jan 22nd 2010 5:00PM]

RIM = Research in Moto?? :-P

[Maxflame Posted Jan 22nd 2010 5:11PM]

@liutui
Research in mom

[nicholas1987ucsb Posted Jan 22nd 2010 5:01PM]

Patent law is anti-progressive. It does not foster innovation, but actually slows it down.

[Edobe Posted Jan 22nd 2010 5:16PM]

@nicholas1987ucsb It is somewhat of a necessary evil. When companies spend millions on R&D developing x they need a to insure that other companies don't just copy x and implement it into their products at a lower price (since they didn't incur any R&D costs), The real problem is how broad some of these patents are and how easily they are given out.

[nicholas1987ucsb Posted Jan 22nd 2010 5:29PM]

@Edobe Yeah that's why Americans are stuck subsidizes all the R&D for pharmaceuticals we end up paying $125 a pill for where in Canada/Cuba/UK/Europe don't allow such price gouging.

I think a lot of people assume the choice is Communism of Capitalism (legalized greed). I think there's definitely a middle ground.

[donv69 Posted Jan 22nd 2010 5:42PM]

@Edobe Nah, if two companies spend millions and both end up with the same solution, but only one has a patent, then this is where this becomes a problem. I think the only time patents should be enforced is if the one company can prove the other stole their idea.

[Edobe Posted Jan 22nd 2010 9:13PM]

@donv69 Yes, i was referring to one company spending millions and the other company just making a knock off version. Which would happen frequently if these laws didn't exist.

[yulebellow Posted Jan 22nd 2010 5:02PM]

Too bad all these companies are infringing on my patents, I'm just waiting to screw em.

[ChazClout Posted Jan 23rd 2010 4:58AM]

@yulebellow I'm sorry but I've already patented that comment.

(goes to the ITC to ban the import of yulebellow comments)

[Edobe Posted Jan 22nd 2010 5:02PM]

let me guess, RIM lawyers are currently preparing to file a complaint to ask the ITC to Ban the imports of Motorola's. In reality the ITC has no intention of banning any of these imports

[N900 Posted Jan 22nd 2010 5:07PM]

@Edobe Basically. Rinse, dry, repeat.

[sadpanda Posted Jan 22nd 2010 6:46PM]

@Edobe RIM cannot ask the ITC to do anything because RIM is a Canadian company and the ITC is a branch of the United States government designed to protect American companies, such as Motorola. Given that Motorola is an American company, its products are also technically not "imports" for the purposes of the Commission despite that they are manufactured in China.

[Edobe Posted Jan 22nd 2010 7:05PM]

@sadpanda well Nokia is a Finish company and they asked the ITC to ban Apple (an American componay) imports. So I don't see why RIM couldn't do the same.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/04/nokia-asks-itc-to-ban-iphone-ipod-and-macbook-imports-files-a/

[Echuu Posted Jan 22nd 2010 5:06PM]

All these lawsuits and ban imports are starting to be hilarious. Waiting for the next one with anticipation.

[ashleythehottiest Posted Jan 22nd 2010 5:08PM]

This Blackberries and iPhones is ridiculous

[ashleythehottiest Posted Jan 22nd 2010 5:17PM]

@ashleythehottiest This *banning

[N900 Posted Jan 22nd 2010 5:09PM]

"Should have never given up on the bar exam, Jim."

Jim: =(

[Action Eugene Posted Jan 22nd 2010 8:12PM]

@N900

Whoaaa , Nelly!

[cosmicinglewood Posted Jan 22nd 2010 5:14PM]

Come on Moto, your Android went over big, and blackberry's are doomed to flop on their own if RIM keeps playing doe doe bird with their smartphone OS because open source is going to go smack down on everything else eventually.

[travisonfire Posted Jan 22nd 2010 5:15PM]

America's favorite things all made from stolen technology

[N900 Posted Jan 22nd 2010 5:20PM]

Speaking of bans, what happened to Goona and HighestRanked?

[Edobe Posted Jan 22nd 2010 8:49PM]

@N900 Are they banning people again?

[SParklingCYaNide Posted Jan 22nd 2010 5:21PM]

Aahahahaa OK ok all these companies ALL O F THEM are getting a bit carried away with all this damn Patent "Supposed" infringement crap. They all sound like Squabbling little babies.

Too comical lately!

[nicholas1987ucsb Posted Jan 22nd 2010 5:33PM]

@SParklingCYaNide

Not that I necessary disagree with you. BUT if you don't pursue these cases you are basically giving away your patent, because in the eyes of the law it creates a precedent that you didn't attempt to protect your idea. It's similar to the way that Monster Cable sues anyone with the word Monster, or Apple has to sue some random Australian supermarket...They don't want to do, it's bad publicity...But not to do so means losing ownership over the idea (trademark or patent).

[SParklingCYaNide Posted Jan 22nd 2010 6:30PM]

@nicholas1987ucsb I understand, I just wish these companies could try to come to an agreement before they just automatically sue each other. ya' know? It'd be better for everyone us and them.

[Xn1nja Posted Jan 22nd 2010 7:43PM]

@SParklingCYaNide
Well... technically... this is the last resort. Afaik, Nokia stated they tried dealing before reaching the Sue-your-pants-off route.

Idk about Moto, but then if they were to state like Kodak that they only trying to get their compensation for the their work, then everyone else will follow along with the same motto.

In the end Nokia will sue them all for copying them :D

[Johnny Ive Posted Jan 22nd 2010 5:24PM]

No one can beat BIS.
Just thought I'd mention that. :-)

[jordanbiffle Posted Jan 22nd 2010 5:32PM]

And thus, thats how the US began to become the first nation to ban all cellphones.

[donv69 Posted Jan 22nd 2010 5:51PM]

@jordanbiffle Yeah, then some company is going to try to extend the reach of the cordless phone to more than 100 feet.

[TheGM Posted Jan 22nd 2010 5:34PM]

After all these bans, we're all going to be stuck with the JitterBug.

[Accidental Posted Jan 22nd 2010 5:36PM]

@TheGM
oh GOD no!

[marmota Posted Jan 22nd 2010 5:37PM]

Paine si circ

[M3 Posted Jan 22nd 2010 5:51PM]

"Also spotted: lawyers gleefully dancing in the streets dressed only in loinclothes made from money. "


Wait... you're a lawyer Nilay.... bad image...

[jgp Posted Jan 22nd 2010 5:52PM]

The whole system is broken.

The fact that the ITC can ban imports without an actual conviction for infringement is proof enough.

[coopere Posted Jan 22nd 2010 6:42PM]

why can't everybody just get along? when you think of it is the consumer that's being affected, because moto owns one feature, nokia owns another, apple controls this and htc has a grip on that. that is why we cannot get just one device with all we wish for. so we have to settle for what is available.
we want to spend our money on the device of our choice with all the features we desire. but i don't see why these multi-million dollar companies just pay the royalties to who deserves it and give us a truly innovative product. but i guess they will have to work to hard to impress us with devices that grab our attention and in the end our money.
this is worse than verizon and at&t filing our televisions with adds with high paid celebrities and maps.

[SParklingCYaNide Posted Jan 22nd 2010 8:21PM]

@coopere I completely agree, I don't care what company you favor we all lose in this.

[pointdexler Posted Jan 22nd 2010 8:24PM]

Right, Nokia ban Apple, Apple ban Nokia, Motorola ban RIM, RIM ban Motorola... eventually, we all will be using phone from Lenovo, Huawei and KIRF phones...the biggest winner CHINA..

[Plazmic Flame Posted Jan 22nd 2010 8:34PM]

What in the hell? "patents on the UI"???

FFS......it all makes sense now. Worst ripoff in history, parts of the ui still looks like something from a motorola phone. Just sad...

[XChrisX Posted Jan 22nd 2010 9:53PM]

Desperation on the part of Motorola. That's what happens when you let the competition out pace you for so long.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 23rd 2010 6:51AM]

@XChrisX Wait where have you been the last three months?

[XChrisX Posted Jan 23rd 2010 9:04AM]

@(Unverified) I understand what they are doing now has sparked some interest but I believe RIM still has the upper hand here as far as overall sales and general public interest.

[d3sc3nd3ncy Posted Jan 23rd 2010 3:08AM]

I wonder if it's a bad time to buy a blackberry if I work for Motorola. . .

[Jackz0r Posted Jan 23rd 2010 8:14AM]

Well I think it is safe to say the big winner out of all these disputes between RIM/motorola/apple/nokia is the patent lawyers.