After removing Kik instant messaging service from the BlackBerry app store on November 12, 2010, RIM has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Kik in Canada’s Federal Court in Toronto two and a half weeks later, on November 30.

If you’re a BlackBerry user, you are familiar with the BlackBerry Messenger application and how it uses real time indicators for when the other party is typing a message as well as when the message has been delivered or read. Kik seems to use the same method of notifying its users of messenger activity.

On November 12, RIM was stating that it “concluded that Kik had breached contractual obligations. Based on the broad scope and seriousness of the issues and concerns, RIM terminated its agreements with Kik and withdrew RIM’s support for Kik’s service“. Now the issue has been brought to court in Canada and seems like RIM is accusing Kik of infringing those pattents that bring messenger activity to the application and if all things follow the classic pattern, we’re likely to see a U.S. filing soon.

Source: David Lam’s Blog, Filing

Via: CrackBerry