Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 07-03-2018

BlackBerry has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Facebook and its WhatsApp and Instagram apps, arguing that they copied technology and features from BlackBerry Messenger.

Reuter’s reports litigation over patent infringement is part of BlackBerry Chief Executive John Chen’s strategy for making money for the company, which has lost market share in the smartphone market it once dominated.

BlackBerry says defendants created mobile messaging applications that co-opt BlackBerry’s innovations, using a number of the innovative security, user interface, and functionality enhancing features.

Spokeswoman Sarah McKinney says protecting shareholder assets and intellectual property is the job of every CEO.
She says litigation was “not central to BlackBerry’s strategy.”

“The lawsuit followed years of negotiation and BlackBerry has an obligation to shareholders to pursue appropriate legal remedies.”

Facebook Deputy General Counsel Paul Grewal said in a statement that the company intended to fight the lawsuit.

“Blackberry’s suit sadly reflects the current state of its messaging business. Having abandoned its efforts to innovate, Blackberry is now looking to tax the innovation of others.”

BlackBerry sued Nokia Corp in February 2017, alleging infringement of patents relating to 3G and 4G wireless communications technology. That case is still pending in federal court in Delaware.

Twitter: @FaizelPatel143