RIM's fate uncertain as USPTO prepares to reject NTP patents

The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a decision rejecting the fifth and final patent at the heart of NTP's infringement case against BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM). Unfortunately for RIM, the ruling is "non-final" until at least next month. U.S. District Court Judge James Spencer is expected to make a final ruling at a hearing on February 24 and he has previously stated that he will not delay the case to wait for a final ruling from the USPTO. Legal experts say the USPTO's latest decision does make a BlackBerry ban less likely, but the final outcome of this landmark patent case is still anyone's guess. Article