Two More NTP Patents Deemed Invalid

BlackBerry manufacturer Research in Motion celebrated another win in its fight against NTP, saying on Friday that the U.S. Patent Office had rejected two more of NTP's patents in "non-final actions." With these latest rejections, only one of eight patents surrounding BlackBerry technologies still stands.

With its court options exhausted, RIM has had to turn to the Patent Office for any hope of avoiding a disconnection of service. A U.S. judge in Virginia is currently considering a lifting of a stay that prevented the BlackBerry service from being shut down, and has indicated his patience with the case is wearing thin.

Since that time, the USPTO has moved swiftly to review NTP's patents, ruling completely in RIM's favor. "[It] is acting with special dispatch to address the court's concern and the public interest," RIM's marketing vice president Mark Guibert said.

With most of NTP's patents now deemed invalid, it looks less likely that either RIM would need to settle with NTP in the short term, or a shutdown would occur and leave millions of BlackBerry users without service. However, the patent holding company still has some options.

NTP can still appeal any final decisions from the USPTO through the courts, but a judgment in such cases could take years and be costly to the company.

NTP did not immediately comment on Friday's events.