RIM, NTP settle patent war

Research In Motion Ltd. reached a settlement with NTP Inc. Friday, putting an end to a four-year patent war that threatened to shut down BlackBerry service in the United States. According to a joint press release, RIM said it has paid Virginia patent holding company NTP $612.5-million (U.S.) as a “full and final settlement of all claims against RIM, as well as for a perpetual, fully-paid up license going forward.” Waterloo, Ont.-based RIM also warned that profit, sales and new subscribers in the fourth quarter will fall short of earlier targets, as “uncertainty” about the legal war hurt its business in December.