TM583
9/23/2012
1. What were some of the challenges that RIM faced to protect its intellectual property, and how did RIM handle those challenges?
RIM is a Waterloo-based company founded in 1984 by two University of Waterloo engineering students, Mike Lazaridis and Douglas Fregin.
Through the development of integrated hardware, software and services that support multiple wireless network standards, RIM provides platforms and solutions for seamless access to time-sensitive information including email, phone, text messaging (SMS and MMS), Internet and intranet-based applications.
RIM technology also enables a broad array of third party developers and manufacturers to enhance their products and services with wireless connectivity to data. RIM is specialized making today markets popular product Black Berry which is basically a big competition for Apples iPhone.
The first Blackberry device came to market in 1999. Since then, RIM has consistently introduced many new and innovative products and services that are used by businesses and consumers around the world. The wireless solutions industry is an extremely competitive one, and, in 2002, RIM was sued for patent infringement by an American company, NTP.
Since the turn of century, the company has been involved in a number of suits related to the alleged patent infringement. Several legal issues that have been put in place to regulate businesses have brought this about. The most recent and notable one was about NPT Inc. It involved patent infringement in e-mail over the wireless technology. This battle between RIM and the NTP Inc adversely affected e-mail users in the U.S. However the battle has made the company to rise to any occasion that has met it afterwards making it position itself very well in the business world. It also made the company to be very sensitive in making sure that they protect their products. After an