Topics
Remember a few months back, when the Toronto based broadcast industry group BBM Canada decided they would go ahead and file a trademark infringement suit against Research In Motion? Their defense being, that they were constantly being confused with Research In Motion. As it turns out, the courts have now decided RIM can use the term "BBM" however they do so wish:
At the time, I noted I wasn't sure how RIM could possibly win this case. Nice to see I was wrong on the matter entirely and RIM can continue to use BBM from here on out, losing the BBM mark would not be good at all. it's certainly about time RIM had some good luck go their way.“We are pleased that the Federal Court of Canada sided with RIM and confirmed that RIM’s use of BBM does not infringe the trademark rights of BBM Canada as they had alleged,” RIM spokeswoman Tenille Kennedy
Source: Globe And Mail
13.102.764 Readers per month
Copyright © 2013 Mobile Nations • Terms and Conditions • Privacy Policy
CrackBerry is in no way Affiliated with BlackBerry. We take pride in our unbiased content, however do occasionally receive free products from vendors that we review or discuss. For more info click here.
GeneralHerzog May 31, 2012 at 5:31 pm
We knew we'd win this one anyway, but nice to see it over with!! Rock on BBM!
thymaster Jun 1, 2012 at 2:34 am
BBM is not a trademark belonging to RIM or any company. The acronym first evolved when users of Blackberry Messenger called it BBM for short. The term then became widespread among consumers that RIM decided to incorporate it into their marketing.
I remember back when Blackberry Messenger started becoming popular, me and my friends would call it BBM way before RIM patented the name. Even if RIM didn't claim the name, consumers would still call it BBM...naturally. Legally the name should be used by the consumers however they want...so in reference to Blackberry Messenger it shall be.
bighap May 31, 2012 at 5:32 pm
Score one for the good guys!
koool1 May 31, 2012 at 7:14 pm
I wish they could get BBX also!
Strider2112 Jun 1, 2012 at 10:59 am
Too late for that one, it's already BlackBerry 10 and there's no looking back now. We gotta keep moving forward
Superfly_FR May 31, 2012 at 5:36 pm
Nice. I love good news.
jd914 May 31, 2012 at 5:36 pm
RIM needs to worry about staying in business not some frivolous court case.
rkopsie May 31, 2012 at 5:52 pm
Shut up, Meg.
diegonei May 31, 2012 at 5:58 pm
Noo... we use "Shut up, Meg" when people say something worth noticing. Don't waste it on troll posts. :p
Blackberry_boffin May 31, 2012 at 6:13 pm
Yeah, for this we say, "Meg who let you back into the house?"
chesterhall Jun 1, 2012 at 6:39 am
Hahahahahahhhahahahahahahahahaha!
SPNKr May 31, 2012 at 6:06 pm
lol x'D
kupfernigk Jun 1, 2012 at 9:15 am
Meg Whitman is the CEO of Hewlett Packard, and HP seems to be heading down the toilet rather faster than RIM.
AVPTI May 31, 2012 at 5:56 pm
Seeing as this court case involved their most prized possession, I don't see how this was a frivolous case.
A BlackBerry without BBM is like an iPhone without fart apps
MasterOfBinary May 31, 2012 at 6:02 pm
LOL!
+100000000
killzone22 Jun 1, 2012 at 12:26 am
Good one LOL!!!
apengue1 May 31, 2012 at 6:58 pm
You don't seem to know how this works... They were TAKEN to court, or they had the option of settling and losing the BBM name, which is not a damn option you crazy nut!
Strider2112 Jun 1, 2012 at 11:01 am
You got served [insert random letters/numbers here because user is too lazy too come up with something meaningful as a username]!!
siddo_d May 31, 2012 at 5:46 pm
Thank god!
AVPTI May 31, 2012 at 5:47 pm
You didn't capitalize the "i" in "it's" in the last sentence. Just sayin'.
feldmen01 May 31, 2012 at 5:57 pm
Thank God someone pointed out that horrific mistake, because for a moment I thought the world was about to implode, explode, implode faster, and then turn into a Fig Newton!
AVPTI May 31, 2012 at 5:59 pm
Just trying to keep the Earth safe.
One grammar mistake at a time.
feldmen01 May 31, 2012 at 6:02 pm
Well then where the hell are you on Bla1ze's articles?!
AVPTI May 31, 2012 at 6:05 pm
Just learned how to read a few hours ago, so I'm a little behind.
PostMortem May 31, 2012 at 9:53 pm
Keep it going, thing is awesome. I seriously can't stop laughing.
JasunX May 31, 2012 at 5:50 pm
I honestly don't see why RIM didn't win this case earlier?
I mean, BlackBerry Messenger = BBM as an acronym, but BBM Canada, as an acronym fully would be BBMC? According to copyright laws, a company is allowed to designate the name of their company or product for that matter to an acronym provided the acronym does not intentionally pose a copyright infringement.
OK too much weed I'm talking crap. And I think I may be confusing acronyms for...what's that other one that exists?
feldmen01 May 31, 2012 at 6:09 pm
I believe an acronym is a shortened version of a name that forms a useable word (like Scuba, or self contained underwater breathing apparatus) and initialism is a shortened version of a name where the letters do not form a useable word (like BBM, or BlackBerry Messenger).
digitalhomeboy Jun 1, 2012 at 12:47 am
+1000 on that correction!
Strider2112 Jun 1, 2012 at 11:05 am
I didn't know that, thanks.
sk8er_tor May 31, 2012 at 5:52 pm
GOOD! Hopefully all the crap is now out of the way and we're going to see only good news going forward.
Scooter68 May 31, 2012 at 5:53 pm
Are you kidding me the grammar police are here? Give me a break...
Going out of business? Seriously dude... 2.1 Billion in the bank and they own everything outright, come on they will be fine.
Only positive vibes from here on in.
Good work RIM lawyers!
jd914 May 31, 2012 at 6:06 pm
So why is everyones BBM lists shrinking?
Rootbrian Jun 1, 2012 at 11:08 pm
Why is your brain shrinking? Screw off troll.
playbookster May 31, 2012 at 6:06 pm
Can they win the BBX name back?
feldmen01 May 31, 2012 at 6:16 pm
Not unless they buy the rights to BBX from the owner of the trademark. Which, at this point would probably cost them more than they are willing to spend for an untested name.
I do believe they need to replace BB10 with something new and different. Someone pointed out BBNX (pronounced BBNeXt), in a different article which caught my eye.
mingus007 Jun 1, 2012 at 12:50 am
I used to think BBX sounded/looked better from a marketing perspective, but in recent times, I'm not so sure. "OSX" (whether you pronounce it "ex" or "ten") is synonymous w/Apple. I'd be extremely jittery if they went w/"BBNeXt" as it rings of Steve Jobs' "NeXT" platform (amongst others) before his return to Apple.
That said, the NeXT box was quite brilliant (one man's opinion), and it does offer a nice soundbyte, but RIM would be crucified by it in the end. (Not that it could do much more damage than the media trying to nix them... *sigh*)
Strider2112 Jun 1, 2012 at 11:08 am
No offense to all the inventive names out there, but RiM isn't going to touch this one. They don't want to beat at a dead horse and risk getting sued over and over again. They have a name and they're going to stick with it, it's never going to change again (since it's been announced as BlackBerry 10), so you'll have to deal with it.
russellwatters May 31, 2012 at 6:09 pm
The RIMpire just struck back. BAM!
dancing-bass May 31, 2012 at 6:52 pm
Good morale booster with this win. Like Bla1ze, when I first heard about this I thought it would be a loss on RIM's side. I'm glad they got the win here. They need all the positive news and "wins" they can get (esp in North America, where everyone is very much AGAINST them). Hoping they can pull out of this slide and come out swinging!
advil_yum May 31, 2012 at 7:07 pm
Now on to getting BBX back! C'Mon, you have a few months yet! ;)
Throw 100 Million at them. That ought to shut 'em up.
killzone22 Jun 1, 2012 at 12:31 am
We can use that 100 million for research and development. Get the product right..worry about naming a product once its actually complete..
otaku2 May 31, 2012 at 8:37 pm
I've used a Blackberry for eight years. I've also worked with BBM data for over 30 years, and in fact have been to their offices in Toronto, and it never occurred to me that the acronyms could be confused.
kokeropie May 31, 2012 at 9:26 pm
Good for RIM. After winning the BBM trademark, now win the market share with BB 10 :)
pocket9 May 31, 2012 at 9:46 pm
Good to hear this !
amazinglygraceless May 31, 2012 at 10:16 pm
From day one I said RIM would win this one. This case was completely without merit.
digitalhomeboy Jun 1, 2012 at 12:50 am
I really wished that RIM could have gotten BBX. The new branding and marketing would have been easier. If I owned it I'd have just given it to them...for a new BlackBerry 10 (BBX) phone. That seems like a fair trade! :)
Strider2112 Jun 1, 2012 at 11:10 am
You're a sucker then.
dfb8085 Jun 1, 2012 at 10:02 am
Thank God the good guys finally won one