Facebook accuses BlackBerry of stealing voice-messaging technology

<p><strong style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook Inc</strong> is suing <strong style="font-weight: bold;">BlackBerry Ltd</strong> for patent infringement, escalating the legal battle between the two companies over protected technology. In a 118-page complaint filed filed 04/09/2018 in <strong style="font-weight: bold;">San Francisco federal court</strong>, <strong style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook </strong>accused <strong style="font-weight: bold;">BlackBerry </strong>of stealing its voice messaging technology, among other patented processes. <strong style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook </strong>is seeking unspecified damages for infringement of six patents.</p> <p><strong style="font-weight: bold;">BlackBerry </strong>didn&rsquo;t immediately respond to messages sent outside regular business hours seeking comment on the suit. In addition to the voice-messaging patent, Facebook cites infringement of patented technology that improves how a mobile device delivers graphics, video and audio and another that centralizes tracking and analysis of <strong style="font-weight: bold;">GPS data</strong>. In March, <strong>BlackBerry </strong>sued <strong>Facebook </strong>in federal court in <strong style="font-weight: bold;">Los Angeles</strong>, accusing the social media giant of infringing on its mobile messaging patents.</p> <p><strong style="font-weight: bold;">BlackBerry</strong> Seeks New Life From Old Patents to Stem Sales Decline <strong style="font-weight: bold;">BlackBerry </strong>claimed <strong style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook </strong>made unauthorized use of its technology in its own instant messenger service, Facebook Messenger, and in WhatsApp Messenger and Instagram.</p> <p>The case is <strong style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook Inc v BlackBerry Ltd</strong>, 3:18-cv-05434, <strong style="font-weight: bold;">US District Court, Northern District of California</strong> (<strong style="font-weight: bold;">San Francisco</strong>). The March case is BlackBerry v Facebook, 2:18-cv-01844, US District Court for the Central District of California <strong style="font-weight: bold;">(Los Angeles)</strong>.</p>