Blackberry sues Facebook
Blackberry files patent infringement lawsuit against the world’s largest social network Facebook and its subsidiaries WhatsApp & Instagram.
According to reports, Blackberry accuses Facebook for copying messaging features from the blackberry messenger. In 2017, Blackberry filed a similar patent infringement lawsuit against Nokia after its smart phone sales declined.
In the charge sheet, Blackberry claims that Facebook has borrowed its technology without any consent. It also says that Facebook has copied the method of notifying its users for photo tagging — and new messages.
There are some rumors that Blackberry’s CEO John Chen has designed a strategy to get more money out of lawsuits for the company, which has lost its market share big time.
Blackberry makes it loud and clear in the case filling at the Los Angeles Federal court:
“(Facebook) Defendants created mobile messaging applications that co-opt BlackBerry’s innovations, using a number of the innovative security, user interface, and functionality enhancing features”.
Sarah McKinney – the spokesperson of Blackberry denies in an email, saying that litigation is not ‘a strategy of Blackberry’. “However, we have a strong claim that Facebook has infringed on our intellectual property, and after several years of dialogue, we also have an obligation to our shareholders to pursue appropriate legal remedies,” she added.
At last, Facebook breaks silence on this.
Facebook’s Deputy General Counsel Paul Grewal has said that the company is 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,” Grewal said.
After an embarrassing losing streak in the smart phone market, Blackberry has now turned itself into a cybersecurity and embedded software leader.
Blackberry officially said: “Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp could make great partners in our drive toward a securely connected future, and we continue to hold this door open to them.”
Litigation is not new for Blackberry. Companies like TCL, Qualcomm and many others are paying Blackberry in the name of copyrights and patent infringement. Qualcomm agreed to pay Blackberry $390 million for resolving their dispute over royalty payments.
Reuters
Blackberry files patent infringement lawsuit against Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram in Los Angeles federal court. Online court records Copy of complaint not immediately available in online court records.
Blackberry sues Facebook
