'Remember BlackBerry?': Iconic phone makers patents used to hit Brother in a massive lawsuit that could threaten the entire printer industry

Date:
Thu, 09 Apr 2026 19:35:00 +0000

Description:
Patent firms are suing Brother using BlackBerrys legacy patents, raising
risks of damages, product redesigns, and wider disruption across the printer industry.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Pro Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member features. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are
now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Join the club Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter BlackBerry patents resurface in lawsuit targeting modern printer technologies Brother faces claims of willful infringement over legacy mobile innovations Patent firms push for damages and sweeping product redesigns Two patent firms have launched a lawsuit against Brother Industries that traces back to BlackBerrys old mobile patents.

The complaint from Malikie Innovations and Key Patent Innovations alleges Brothers printers and multifunction devices use secure wireless links, data encoding methods, and touchscreen interfaces originally developed for BlackBerry phones. These four patents now sit in Malikies portfolio after BlackBerry sold off much of its non-core IP to Key Patent Innovations in
2023. Article continues below You may like 'Will my lens become a brick?' Nikon's Viltrox lawsuit rumor has users worried 'Printers are the security blind spot many SMBs overlook': SMBs are ignoring print security and that could be a major problem for them This new lawsuit could ban some of the best smartwatches heres why Why this lawsuit matters for the printer industry The plaintiffs claim that Brother continued using the patented technology despite prior awareness and licensing opportunities, which has led to allegations of willful infringement, which could result in enhanced penalties beyond
standard damages.

The lawsuit seeks monetary damages, enhanced penalties, and a permanent injunction against Brother.

A permanent injunction could force the company to redesign its products or disrupt sales entirely - which would not only hurt Brother, but it could also set a precedent for other printer manufacturers.

Patent holders are increasingly targeting embedded software and connectivity features, putting the entire printer industry on notice. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get
all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting
your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

BlackBerry was once a dominant force in the smartphone market, known for its secure wireless communications and physical keyboards .

The companys patents have outlived its hardware business, becoming valuable assets for licensing firms.

Irish firms Malikie Innovations and Key Patent Innovations have acquired
these patents and are now enforcing them against Brother. What to read next
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The lawsuit shows how intellectual property from defunct or struggling tech companies can find new life in the hands of patent assertion entities, which generate revenue by licensing patents or winning lawsuits, rather than manufacturing products themselves.

The case is still in its early stages, and Brother has not yet filed a formal response. If the court finds Brother liable for willful infringement, the financial penalties could be substantial.

A permanent injunction would be even more damaging, potentially forcing Brother to halt sales of certain printer models.

Other printer manufacturers, including HP , Canon , and Epson , may be watching this case closely.

They could face similar lawsuits if the same patents are asserted against their products.

The lawsuit raises questions about whether BlackBerrys patents are truly innovative or simply broad enough to cover standard industry practices.

Patent licensing firms often rely on the high cost of litigation to force settlements, regardless of the underlying merit of their claims.

Brother may choose to fight the case rather than settle, but legal battles of this scale can take years and cost millions of dollars.

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/remember-blackberry-iconic-phone-makers-patents- used-to-hit-brother-in-a-massive-lawsuit-that-could-threaten-the-entire-printe r-industry


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