BlackBerry Sues Facebook Over Instant Messaging Patents

Today, BlackBerry filed a lawsuit against Facebook alleging that the social network and its subsidiaries (WhatsApp and Instagram) infringe on the company’s messaging app patents.

At the core of the filing, which is a total of 117 pages, is the company’s proprietary messaging product Blackberry Messenger, otherwise known as BBM. The company is contending that its intellectual property has been infringed upon by Facebook. The filing states:

“[Facebook’s use of] a number of the innovative security, user interface, and functionality enhancing features that made BlackBerry’s products such a critical and commercial success in the first place.”

BlackBerry says that its patents cover a number of areas, including cryptographic techniques, the mixing of mobile games within the messaging app, and its use of user interface elements like notification badges and message timestamps.

According to the complaint, BlackBerry is seeking “redress for the harm caused by Defendants’ unlawful use of BlackBerry’s intellectual property.” This may include monetary damages and injunctive relief. In a statement, Facebook Deputy General Counsel Paul Grewal said:

“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. We intend to fight.”

You can see the full filing below:

Under CEO John Chen, the company has officially stopped making its own phones and focused its efforts on enterprise software that has a strong emphasis on security.

[via The Star]

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