Research in Motion has lost a patent suit filed by Nokia. RIM needs to now reach a royalty agreement with Nokia to avoid a halt on sales of BlackBerry devices.
RIM has the legal process in its favor, for now. Nokia will have to try to enforce the decision in multiple countries so RIM does have some time. The decision is a blow to the already struggling company.
The Swedish arbitrator ruled RIM was not entitled to make or sell mobile devices which can hook up to WiFi networks - using technology known in the trade as WLAN or wireless local access network systems - without first agreeing royalties with Nokia.
"RIM is liable to pay royalties and damages to Nokia for its ... sales of any subscriber terminals (handsets or tablets) ... compatible with the WLAN standard," the arbitrator said in the ruling, issued on November 6 but not publicized until Wednesday.
"RIM has not contested that it manufactures and sells products using WLAN in accordance with Nokia's WLAN patents," it added.
"RIM is liable to pay royalties and damages to Nokia for its ... sales of any subscriber terminals (handsets or tablets) ... compatible with the WLAN standard," the arbitrator said in the ruling, issued on November 6 but not publicized until Wednesday.
"RIM has not contested that it manufactures and sells products using WLAN in accordance with Nokia's WLAN patents," it added.
RIM has the legal process in its favor, for now. Nokia will have to try to enforce the decision in multiple countries so RIM does have some time. The decision is a blow to the already struggling company.