Comments on: Weekend Contest ‘RIM’s Next Move?’ http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/weekend-contest-rims-next-move/ The voice of the BlackBerry community. Sat, 25 May 2013 13:02:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: John C. http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/weekend-contest-rims-next-move/comment-page-1/#comment-17904 John C. Sun, 29 Jan 2006 03:37:32 +0000 http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/001311/#comment-17904 I think that RIM should just take a breath. As has been said, I put my faith in good sense prevailing. People are beginning to understand what kind of company NTP really is and just exactly how broken the entre patent process is. Maybe I’m just being naive, but I think it’ll all just work out without any disruption. Besides, who wants to see millions of people rioting in the streets?

]]> By: John C. http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/weekend-contest-rims-next-move/comment-page-1/#comment-482175 John C. Sun, 29 Jan 2006 03:37:00 +0000 http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/001311/#comment-482175 I think that RIM should just take a breath. As has been said, I put my faith in good sense prevailing. People are beginning to understand what kind of company NTP really is and just exactly how broken the entre patent process is. Maybe I’m just being naive, but I think it’ll all just work out without any disruption. Besides, who wants to see millions of people rioting in the streets?

]]> By: John C. http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/weekend-contest-rims-next-move/comment-page-1/#comment-482176 John C. Sun, 29 Jan 2006 03:37:00 +0000 http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/001311/#comment-482176 I think that RIM should just take a breath. As has been said, I put my faith in good sense prevailing. People are beginning to understand what kind of company NTP really is and just exactly how broken the entre patent process is. Maybe I’m just being naive, but I think it’ll all just work out without any disruption. Besides, who wants to see millions of people rioting in the streets?

]]> By: Solomon Wong http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/weekend-contest-rims-next-move/comment-page-1/#comment-17894 Solomon Wong Sat, 28 Jan 2006 06:49:32 +0000 http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/001311/#comment-17894 If I were in charge of RIM, I would take advantage of the most important asset RIM has: customer loyalty. As fanatic a fan base Blackberry users have become, there must be something that can energize this group into action! Think about the success Firefox users had collecting funds to buy a NY Times ad! Nothing is worst than passing disinterest in the threat of a shutdown!

]]> By: Solomon Wong http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/weekend-contest-rims-next-move/comment-page-1/#comment-482174 Solomon Wong Sat, 28 Jan 2006 06:49:00 +0000 http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/001311/#comment-482174 If I were in charge of RIM, I would take advantage of the most important asset RIM has: customer loyalty. As fanatic a fan base Blackberry users have become, there must be something that can energize this group into action! Think about the success Firefox users had collecting funds to buy a NY Times ad! Nothing is worst than passing disinterest in the threat of a shutdown!

]]> By: Melissa Ox http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/weekend-contest-rims-next-move/comment-page-1/#comment-17857 Melissa Ox Sat, 28 Jan 2006 03:18:30 +0000 http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/001311/#comment-17857 I think a settlement would be horribly wrong. However I would not be surprised to see one happen. I think they should be letting everyone know what a horrid company NTP is and getting the politicians, business men and woman, and public to see NTP for the big bad scam that it is. How can the words settlement be heard in our legal system when the Patent Office has baiclly said the patents are no good?!
I think its time a company like NTP was taught a lesson in the way things should be. And I think RIM is a company that can do it. They have so many supporters in business and politics that they have the leverage to get the patent system changed and put scamers like NTP out of business.

]]> By: Melissa Ox http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/weekend-contest-rims-next-move/comment-page-1/#comment-482173 Melissa Ox Sat, 28 Jan 2006 03:18:00 +0000 http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/001311/#comment-482173 I think a settlement would be horribly wrong. However I would not be surprised to see one happen. I think they should be letting everyone know what a horrid company NTP is and getting the politicians, business men and woman, and public to see NTP for the big bad scam that it is. How can the words settlement be heard in our legal system when the Patent Office has baiclly said the patents are no good?!
I think its time a company like NTP was taught a lesson in the way things should be. And I think RIM is a company that can do it. They have so many supporters in business and politics that they have the leverage to get the patent system changed and put scamers like NTP out of business.

]]> By: Joe Peters http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/weekend-contest-rims-next-move/comment-page-1/#comment-17838 Joe Peters Sat, 28 Jan 2006 01:07:17 +0000 http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/001311/#comment-17838 I think that RIM needs to play the government angle. The President can PIN a general on the field in seconds with orders. Are we really willing to shut down such an intriquet piece to the puzzle of the war on terrorism?
We need these devices. At least shut it down for a legitimate company I mean good lord!! NTP is known for there DECEPTION! Come on!? Don’t be silly.
To sum it all up, The successful functionality of our government is more important than the successful deception of NTP.

]]> By: Joe Peters http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/weekend-contest-rims-next-move/comment-page-1/#comment-482172 Joe Peters Sat, 28 Jan 2006 01:07:00 +0000 http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/001311/#comment-482172 I think that RIM needs to play the government angle. The President can PIN a general on the field in seconds with orders. Are we really willing to shut down such an intriquet piece to the puzzle of the war on terrorism?
We need these devices. At least shut it down for a legitimate company I mean good lord!! NTP is known for there DECEPTION! Come on!? Don’t be silly.
To sum it all up, The successful functionality of our government is more important than the successful deception of NTP.

]]> By: Dave http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/weekend-contest-rims-next-move/comment-page-1/#comment-17822 Dave Fri, 27 Jan 2006 23:37:01 +0000 http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/001311/#comment-17822 Why should RIM settle. They should release a software update that includes a patch to not use the technology patented by NTP. This way, they are no longer infringing. Then, they should argue that NTP has not built or attempted to sell any device using their patented technology and therefore RIM has caused no financial loss to NTP. If NTP isn’t making any money off the patent, or attempting to, then no money should be sent their way.

As an aside, any patent that lies dormant for 14 years should be terminated anywise. There should be a clause that requires a company to release a product using the patented technology (internally or externally) within 10 years of the patent or they lose the patent. A system designed to remove cheating from the world by punishing copycats should also remove the other end: people who patent things and never plan on using the technology.

I don’t know any exact numbers on what patents NTP has that they have never put into practice but there should be a system that factors in what percentage of a companies patents are actually used before they can make a claim. If it is an absurd number, for example 66% or more, there should be an audit.

Patents don’t exist so that companies can go out and patent technologies at will, they exist to help out individuals and companies with bright ideas who plan on using them.

Overall conclusion: patent law needs to be reformed to prevent ‘patent horders’

]]> By: Dave http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/weekend-contest-rims-next-move/comment-page-1/#comment-482171 Dave Fri, 27 Jan 2006 23:37:00 +0000 http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/001311/#comment-482171 Why should RIM settle. They should release a software update that includes a patch to not use the technology patented by NTP. This way, they are no longer infringing. Then, they should argue that NTP has not built or attempted to sell any device using their patented technology and therefore RIM has caused no financial loss to NTP. If NTP isn’t making any money off the patent, or attempting to, then no money should be sent their way.

As an aside, any patent that lies dormant for 14 years should be terminated anywise. There should be a clause that requires a company to release a product using the patented technology (internally or externally) within 10 years of the patent or they lose the patent. A system designed to remove cheating from the world by punishing copycats should also remove the other end: people who patent things and never plan on using the technology.

I don’t know any exact numbers on what patents NTP has that they have never put into practice but there should be a system that factors in what percentage of a companies patents are actually used before they can make a claim. If it is an absurd number, for example 66% or more, there should be an audit.

Patents don’t exist so that companies can go out and patent technologies at will, they exist to help out individuals and companies with bright ideas who plan on using them.

Overall conclusion: patent law needs to be reformed to prevent ‘patent horders’

]]> By: Eric Senf http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/weekend-contest-rims-next-move/comment-page-1/#comment-17817 Eric Senf Fri, 27 Jan 2006 20:29:23 +0000 http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/001311/#comment-17817 A settlement of some sorts is pending unless absolutely ridiculous, though that would potentially delay things further for NTP. Everything is business can be solved through the exchange of money. RIM must preserve its shareholder value and a service shut down would do anything but that.

With that said, the patent system has totally failed its original intentions and has turned into a corporate lottery/jackpot system.

]]> By: Eric Senf http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/weekend-contest-rims-next-move/comment-page-1/#comment-482169 Eric Senf Fri, 27 Jan 2006 20:29:00 +0000 http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/001311/#comment-482169 A settlement of some sorts is pending unless absolutely ridiculous, though that would potentially delay things further for NTP. Everything is business can be solved through the exchange of money. RIM must preserve its shareholder value and a service shut down would do anything but that.

With that said, the patent system has totally failed its original intentions and has turned into a corporate lottery/jackpot system.

]]> By: Eric Senf http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/weekend-contest-rims-next-move/comment-page-1/#comment-482170 Eric Senf Fri, 27 Jan 2006 20:29:00 +0000 http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/001311/#comment-482170 A settlement of some sorts is pending unless absolutely ridiculous, though that would potentially delay things further for NTP. Everything is business can be solved through the exchange of money. RIM must preserve its shareholder value and a service shut down would do anything but that.

With that said, the patent system has totally failed its original intentions and has turned into a corporate lottery/jackpot system.

]]> By: C Bae http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/weekend-contest-rims-next-move/comment-page-1/#comment-17816 C Bae Fri, 27 Jan 2006 20:09:02 +0000 http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/001311/#comment-17816 It would seem that the best solution is a settlement.

If RIM has a workaround, it cannot be as good as what they currently have, or they would have deployed it already while they were working to invalidate NTPs patents in court.

]]> By: C Bae http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/weekend-contest-rims-next-move/comment-page-1/#comment-482168 C Bae Fri, 27 Jan 2006 20:09:00 +0000 http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/001311/#comment-482168 It would seem that the best solution is a settlement.

If RIM has a workaround, it cannot be as good as what they currently have, or they would have deployed it already while they were working to invalidate NTPs patents in court.

]]> By: John Tobias http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/weekend-contest-rims-next-move/comment-page-1/#comment-17815 John Tobias Fri, 27 Jan 2006 19:49:13 +0000 http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/001311/#comment-17815 I agree, They have a work around, they should implement that, settle on past infringments and move on. Prolonging it is only costing more in legal fees and most likely wont lower the settlement amount much.

I agree that the system is broken, a company that holds patents should either be the company that created said technology in the first place, or at least actually manufacture something other then money by suing over the patents that have purchased.

I am sure that RIM has been working all along to refine the workaround or even on changing the workaround into “business as usual”, at least I would have if it were my call.

]]> By: John Tobias http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/weekend-contest-rims-next-move/comment-page-1/#comment-482167 John Tobias Fri, 27 Jan 2006 19:49:00 +0000 http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/001311/#comment-482167 I agree, They have a work around, they should implement that, settle on past infringments and move on. Prolonging it is only costing more in legal fees and most likely wont lower the settlement amount much.

I agree that the system is broken, a company that holds patents should either be the company that created said technology in the first place, or at least actually manufacture something other then money by suing over the patents that have purchased.

I am sure that RIM has been working all along to refine the workaround or even on changing the workaround into “business as usual”, at least I would have if it were my call.

]]> By: RJ Proie http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/weekend-contest-rims-next-move/comment-page-1/#comment-17814 RJ Proie Fri, 27 Jan 2006 16:26:16 +0000 http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/001311/#comment-17814 The first move from right now is to get the filing on the new hearing in by Feb. 1. I would also suggest extending the “grace period” as far as possible, but at least get the 30-day period to not begin until the US Patent Office reveals its final ruling on the NTP patents, which are in their final round and are thus far invalid. The “workaround” could then be refined and put into use more effectively if the worst-case scenario happens. If the US Patent Office decides that the patents are valid, I assume that RIM will attempt to settle immediately, as it’s a dangerous game of chicken to get too deep into the “grace period” without settling, which could push the number necessary to settle up to or above the 1 billion rumor that’s been floated. The original settlement (2002?) was for 450 million, so the negotiations would probably start somewhere around there.

]]> By: RJ Proie http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/weekend-contest-rims-next-move/comment-page-1/#comment-482165 RJ Proie Fri, 27 Jan 2006 16:26:00 +0000 http://www.blackberrycool.com/2006/01/27/001311/#comment-482165 The first move from right now is to get the filing on the new hearing in by Feb. 1. I would also suggest extending the “grace period” as far as possible, but at least get the 30-day period to not begin until the US Patent Office reveals its final ruling on the NTP patents, which are in their final round and are thus far invalid. The “workaround” could then be refined and put into use more effectively if the worst-case scenario happens. If the US Patent Office decides that the patents are valid, I assume that RIM will attempt to settle immediately, as it’s a dangerous game of chicken to get too deep into the “grace period” without settling, which could push the number necessary to settle up to or above the 1 billion rumor that’s been floated. The original settlement (2002?) was for 450 million, so the negotiations would probably start somewhere around there.

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