NTP and RIM Settle Patent Litigation

    WASHINGTON, March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- NTP Incorporated and Research In
 Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq:   RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced that both parties have
 entered into a settlement agreement and a license which will end the patent
 litigation currently pending in the United States District Court for the
 Eastern District of Virginia.
     Under the terms of the settlement, RIM will make a one-time payment to NTP
 of $612.5 million.  In return NTP has granted RIM a license which will enable
 RIM to continue its BlackBerry-related wireless business.
     Donald E. Stout, NTP's co-founder, said, "We are pleased to have reached
 an amicable settlement with RIM.  We believe that the settlement is in the
 best interests of all parties, including the US Government and all other
 BlackBerry users in the United States.  We remain grateful to the U.S.
 District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia for its time and
 consideration.  NTP is pleased that the issue has been resolved and looks
 forward to enhancing its businesses."
     The license covers all the current NTP patents involved in the litigation
 as well as any future NTP patents.  All of RIM's past and future products,
 services and technologies will be covered as  well as all RIM customers and
 providers of RIM products and services, including wireless carriers,
 distributors, suppliers and ISV partners.  RIM will have the right to grant
 sublicenses under the NTP patents to anyone for products or services that
 interface, interact or combine with RIM's products, services or
 infrastructure.  The agreement permits RIM and its partners to sell its
 products, services and infrastructure completely free and clear of any claim
 by NTP, including any claims that NTP may have against wireless carriers, ISV
 partners or against third party products that use RIM's BlackBerry Connect /
 BlackBerry Built-In technology.
     Wiley Rein & Fielding LLP and Hunton & Williams LLP are serving as legal
 counsel to NTP, and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. is serving as financial
 advisor to NTP.
 
     About NTP Incorporated
     NTP Incorporated is an intellectual property firm based in McLean, VA.
 The privately-held firm holds numerous patents and was co-founded in 1992 by
 the late inventor Thomas Campana, Jr. and attorney Donald Stout.  Mr Campana
 was a veteran of the United States Air Force, ran a private engineering
 services firm  and was awarded over 50 patents.  Among NTP's library of
 patents are those pertaining to technologies involving wireless email which Mr
 Campana developed as lead inventor in 1990.  In addition to its agreement with
 RIM, NTP has existing license agreements with Good Technology, Inc., Nokia,
 and Visto Corporation.
 
     NTP Incorporated Contacts:
 
     Eric Brielmann / Joele Frank
     Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
     (212) 355-4449
     ebrielmann@joelefrank.com
 
 

SOURCE  NTP Incorporated