RIM Settles BlackJack Feud with Samsung

February 8, 2007 By Geoff Duncan

RIM has settled its lawsuit with Samsung Electronics, which alleged Samsung's BlackJack phone infringed on RIM's BlackBerry trademark.

Canada’s Research in Motion has settled a lawsuit with South Korea’s Samsung Electronics over its BlackJack smartphone, which RIM alleged infringed on trademarks for its own BlackBerry mobile devices.

RIM filed the lawsuit in December 2006, shortly after the BlackJack’s November introduction on Cingular, alleging Samsung was falsely leading consumers to believe its BlackJack device was associated with RIM’s business and services particularly the company’s new BlackBerry Pearl device.

The complete terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but RIM described the settlement via email as containing “certain reasonable measures to avoid confusion in the marketplace.” Media reports say the agreement requires Samsung withdraw its trademark application for BlackJack, and limits how the South Korean company can use the BlackJack name. RIM’s email statement noted: “RIM is very pleased to have reached a mutually beneficial settlement agreement that includes immediate provisions for the protection of RIM’s valuable trademarks.”

Showing 2 comments

Brett Conrad at 4:09pm 8th February 2007 I think it's ridiculous too.
Jake in LA at 3:38pm 8th February 2007 I think it's clear that the Blackjack phone was playing on the hype of the blackberry's name, but where does it end? If another phone came out called the i-berry, would they get double sued?