Monday, January 30, 2006
Some Background on the RIM vs NTP Patent Issue
Posted by Ed Hansberry in "THE COMPETITION" @ 12:30 PM
http://www.globetechnology.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060128.wxcover0128/BNStory/Technology/
Contrary to popular belief, NTP, Inc. doesn't appear to be just a band of lawyers intent on patent squatting. In fact, one of the founding members, Thomas Campana Jr., is a long time inventor that has had several start-up companies involved in wireless text delivery, each with varying degrees of success. Mr. Campana died in 2004, but he was fiercely involved in protecting his intellectual property, and the amount he wanted was ridiculously small compared to where the case has gotten to today. RIM is far from innocent and has committed a number of serious blunders, many of which would have let them off the hook for mere fractions of the amounts now on the table.
The site may require free registration to read the 11 page article, but it is well worth it if you are interested in finding out some facts about this case and the history of the founding members of both RIM and NTP, and why this case has reached the US Supreme court and the attention of millions of individuals around the world. I still don't have a clue as to who should and will win, but after reading this, I am more inclined than ever to dismiss someone's comments as ranting when they launch into "patent squatter" diatribes. It is not nearly so black and white.
Contrary to popular belief, NTP, Inc. doesn't appear to be just a band of lawyers intent on patent squatting. In fact, one of the founding members, Thomas Campana Jr., is a long time inventor that has had several start-up companies involved in wireless text delivery, each with varying degrees of success. Mr. Campana died in 2004, but he was fiercely involved in protecting his intellectual property, and the amount he wanted was ridiculously small compared to where the case has gotten to today. RIM is far from innocent and has committed a number of serious blunders, many of which would have let them off the hook for mere fractions of the amounts now on the table.
The site may require free registration to read the 11 page article, but it is well worth it if you are interested in finding out some facts about this case and the history of the founding members of both RIM and NTP, and why this case has reached the US Supreme court and the attention of millions of individuals around the world. I still don't have a clue as to who should and will win, but after reading this, I am more inclined than ever to dismiss someone's comments as ranting when they launch into "patent squatter" diatribes. It is not nearly so black and white.
