Startup Eatoni Ergonomics Inc. filed a patent infringement lawsuit against BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion Ltd., alleging the company’s 7100 Series devices infringe on its patents for predictive text entry. Along with the suit, Eatoni’s chief executive officer offered some choice words on the issue.
“The problem is that the RIM 7100 is good, good enough to infringe the patent, but not good enough to create a new standard for mobile text entry,” said Howard Gutowitz, Eatoni’s CEO. “That’s why we have to stop it now and hopefully convince RIM and others to introduce new devices which implement the technology properly.”
Gutowitz added: “Of course, they’ve got fabulously more money than we do, but the truth is the truth, and we count on the judge and jury to see that.”
RIM said it is not infringing on Eatoni’s patents and believes it will prevail in the case. The trial date is set for late next year.
Interestingly, T-Mobile USA Inc. also was named as a defendant in the lawsuit. However, T-Mobile is only one of several carriers that sell the 7100 device; Cingular Wireless L.L.C. and Dobson Communications Corp. also sell the device. An Eatoni official said it was a “fair” move to name only T-Mobile USA.
Eatoni alleges the design of RIM’s 7100 QWERTY keyboard infringes on its patents for predictive text entry.
This is the latest in a series of lawsuits against the BlackBerry maker. The most notable such suit is NTP Inc.’s patent-infringement case, which could potentially find its way to the Supreme Court.
