Research In Motion Ltd. can avoid losing access to the U.S. market with a single payment that comes without strings attached, says the patent holding firm that won a four-year infringement battle against the creator of the BlackBerry device. But as late as Thursday afternoon, RIM was still not hearing that message, according to NTP Inc.’s co-founder Donald Stout. “If they don’t pay us a dime, then they’re going to go out of business in the U.S.,†he said. NTP offered to settle the case last week for a payment equivalent to 5.7 per cent of RIM’s projected U.S. sales through the life of the contested patents, which expire in 2012, said Mr. Stout, who is also a patent lawyer.
RIM responded with a written proposal Thursday that was not acceptable, he said. Mr. Stout declined to provide details of RIM’s response, but said NTP remains firm in its demands. He said it is important the settlement be clear and final.
“We’re not going to have continued warfare going on,†he said.
“We are not going to enter into a lengthy agreement with these guys.â€
