RIM investigated over patent claim

The US lnternational Trade Commission has announced plans to investigate a patent infringing complaint filed against BlackBerry maker Research in Motion by Motorola.

The mobile device manufacturer is claiming RIM infringed five patents, citing the BlackBerry Pearl, Curve, Bold, Storm and Tour.

“The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has voted to institute an investigation of certain wireless communication system server software, wireless handheld devices and battery packs,” noted a report on the ITC’s web site.

“The products at issue in this investigation are wireless communication devices and their corresponding software and battery packs,”

The ITC is also currently investigating RIM over camera maker Kodak that the firm used patented technology in its BlackBerry handsets.

“By instituting this investigation, the USITC has not yet made any decision on the merits of the case,” read the ITC filing. “The USITC's Chief Administrative Law Judge will assign the case to one of the USITC's six administrative law judges, who will schedule and hold an evidentiary hearing.”