WATERLOO, Ontario-BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd. took another major hit in its legal battle with patent-holding company NTP Inc. as the Supreme Court declined to halt the case. RIM’s stock was down more than 6 percent on the news to about $53.74 per share before trading was halted on the Nasdaq.
NTP said the ruling sends the case back to a district court-a court that previously upheld an injuction on the sale of RIM’s BlackBerry devices. RIM had asked the Surpreme Court to suspend the case.
The latest move again raises the possibility that RIM will have to abide a court-ordered injuction-a move that would require RIM to stop selling its BlackBerry devices in the United States. NTP argues that RIM’s BlackBerry service infringes on its patents, and has relentlessly pursued RIM during the past three years.
