A Dutch semiconductor company NXP Semiconductors NV has accused BlackBerry- maker Research In Motion (RIM) of infringing on patents issued to it between 1997 and 2008. The company said on Tuesday it had filed a patent infringement suit against Research In Motion.

NXP filed its lawsuit on Monday in the US District Court in Orlando, Florida. RIM plans to hold its annual BlackBerry World conference there in early May. 

The Dutch chipmaker, based in Eindhoven, Netherlands, has sought cash compensation and a court order to block further use of its inventions.

An affiliate of NXP Semiconductors NV alleges that versions of RIM''s BlackBerry phone and PlayBook tablet infringed on patents issued to it between 1997 and 2008. The patents in question relate to design, data transmission and other features of the devices. 

RIM products including the BlackBerry Torch, Playbook, Curve and Bold are using the patented inventions without permission, NXP contends. The other patents cover computer bus systems, mobile phones with GPS receivers, circuit manufacturing, the polishing of the surface of wafers, and patterning of layers on the wafer.

Marisa Conway, a spokeswoman for Waterloo, Ontario-based RIM, said the company doesn’t comment on pending litigation.

This is not the first time that RIM is facing legal battle on patent litigation. RIM had to pay more than $600 million to NTP Inc, a patent holding company, to settle the case in a five-year patent fight that began in 2001. 

A RIM spokeswoman declined to comment on Tuesday, citing the Canadian company's policy of not discussing litigation.