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.”
