It looks like Research in Motion and NTP Inc. could be on the verge of settling a three-year patent dispute that has only made the lawyers rich and happy. Both parties met last Friday for settlement talks, which investors interpreted today as great news as RIM shares popped 10%. Let's be honest, this legal battle has dragged on way too long for anyone's good. NTP has used the patent system and the courts to hold RIM hostage, while RIM has dug its heel in and refused to concede that maybe NTP has something of value. Of course, we're talking about lots of money so it's not like either side was expected to be rational about resolving things quickly. What you can expect is NTP will walk away with a whack of RIM's cash - $75 million, $100 million is a gues-estimate - and RIM will get peace of mind until the next time someone tries to take a legal run at them. RIM has discovered theire is a price to pay for getting to the top of the heap - you become a target. Ironically, the guy who started this legal mess - NTP's Thomas Campana - died last year.

Craig McCaw caused a stir last week when Bell Canada agreed to kick US$100-million into his wireless broadband venture - a.ka. Clearwire. Part of the deal will see Bell buy into a McCaw-controlled holding company that owns 50% of Inukshuk Internet, which plans to roll out wireless broadband in Canada. It was a surprising move because the other half of Inukshuk is owned by Rogers Communications, which will soon go head-to-head with Bell in television, wireless, high-speed Internet access and telephony. Rogers CEO Ted Rogers clearly is not happy with McCaw, who apparently didn't have the courtesy to call Mr. Rogers before the Bell transaction was unveiled. While Mr. Rogers was diplomatic during an interview last week, if you read between the lines, there is no doubt he's pissed Bell was invited to the Inukshuk party. I mean, Rogers probably saw Inukshuk as a way to gain an edge in a market where everyone will eventually sell the same services. With Bell having an indirect ownership stake in Inukshuk, Rogers may have a partner it doesn't want. My take is Mr. Rogers' lawyers are combing through the Inukshuk agreeement, which originally involved Microcell Telecommunications, Allstream Inc. and McCaw, to see determine what the fine print says. Most important is Mr. Rogers' contention his company has the right of first refusal "directly or indirectly" on NR's stake in Inukshuk. Mr. Rogers may make it clear to McCaw any more transactions between McCaw and Bell will be scrutinuzed carefully. I would not be surprised to see Rogers threaten or pursue legal against McCaw to get Bell out of Inukshuk or ensure Bell's role will be marginal. Neither Bell or Rogers wants to see two wireless broadband networks built. It could be a situation where they are playing a high stakes games of chicken. Bell could be betting Rogers looks at the cost of developing Inukshuk and decides it needs a partner to help finance it.

In what seems like a strange marriage, Research in Motion will pre-install Yahoo Messenger and, eventually, Yahoo Mail on Blackberry devices. While it is an interesting strategic move by both companies to capitalize on their popularity, I wonder if there are many Blackberry-ites who use Yahoo Messenger. While RIM is trying to take Blackberry in the "prosumer" space, it's stll mostly a corporate tool with large representation within the senior management ranks. It would surprise me if CEOs are exchanging instant messages or even using Web-based e-mail. While I admire RIM for trying to break into new markets, I still believe the power of the Blackberry is its always-on e-mail technology. Maybe RIM and Yahoo believe the move to graphic, Web-based e-mail is a natural evolution for Blackberry users but for that to even materialize, RIM must make a major improvement to the Web browsing experience on Blackberrys.
In more important news, you have to wonder what RIM's lawyers are thinking after rival Good Technology entered into a licensing agreement with NTP Inc. As most people know, RIM and NTP are locked in a legal battle in which NTP seems to have RIM in a compromising position. Perhaps the Good-NTP deal will encourage RIM to settle its dispute so it can finally put the costly and time-consuming issue behind it.