Its been less than a week since Research In Motion announced its BBX OS for BlackBerry phones and tablets, the company is facing a lawsuit over the name of the new software. Basis International has sued the Canadian Based RIM alleging trademark infringement.
A complaint filed by Basis International follows:
“After RIM’s public announcement of its BBX operating system, BASIS began receiving inquiries from confused customers. In addition to the inevitable confusion created by RIM’s use of the mark BBX for related goods, customers and prospective customers are also likely to wrongly believe that software applications created using BASIS’ development tools are only compatible with RIM’s BBX operating system, thus impairing and destroying BASIS’ reputation for providing software development tools for cross-platform development.”
Basis International’s BBx product is described by the company as an “operating system independent language, database, and toolset.” The company has even said that its product could be used to create cross-platform applications that would work on RIM’s BlackBerry devices.
Basis International is seeking a preliminary and permanent injunction that would prohibit RIM from using the BBX name and is seeking to have RIM ordered to pay Basis all “earnings, profits, receipts and advantages derived by Defendants through the marketing of goods in association with the unlawful acts alleged herein.” Basis is also seeking to have RIM cover any advertising expenses Basis International would incur while attempting to erase any market confusion created by the RIM’s use of the BBX name, and is also requesting RIM pay three times any actual damages as a punitive award to Basis.
Software company BASIS International Ltd yesterday filed a lawsuit against Blackberry maker Research in Motion over the company’s choice of name for its new Blackberry operating system
