Blackberry in trouble

Patent dispute

[longen]

US District Judge James Spencer could now reissue an injunction that could shut down the Blackberry service in the US.

[news.bbc.co.uk ]

[Essex_boy]

Shoot! I have one of these and their great lil tings, I hope its settled nicley

[lgn1]

RIM will just have to pay NTP more money to settle the patent lawsuit. Do you actually think that BlackBerry will be shutdown?

[balam]

> Do you actually think that BlackBerry will be shutdown?

Certainly not for the US government, who get to keep & use them regardless of the outcome of this case.

[walkman]

>> Certainly not for the US government, who get to keep & use them regardless of the outcome of this case.

Well, one part owns something, and the other owns the other part of the puzzle. I doubt they will shut down, but not because the US Govt' will intervene. This is in the hands of the courts, and unless there's some national security involved, I doubt the Government can do much. The person who owns the patent is in great negotiating position right now. Imagine getting $500 more million then just a week ago ;)

[balam]

> I doubt the Government can do much.

They don't have to do anything. While it's not the best article to express my point, this is the best I had the patience to find:

RIM could be forced to shut down service to almost all 3.65 million U.S. customers, except the 10 percent who are government or emergency-service users.

[...]

Although his staff should be protected from a shutdown by the exemption for government employees, Yarmon isn't taking chances. Everyone from "Senator Stevens all the way to Vice President Cheney has a BlackBerry," he said. Stevens "lives and dies by that thing."

(Emphasis mine.)

BlackBerry users cross their thumbs [msnbc.msn.com]