WINDSOR, ON, Canada (UPI) — The Canadian maker of the BlackBerry personal communications device struck a defiant tone in its legal fight with a U.S. law firm over patents.

The chief executive of Research in Motion Ltd. said Wednesday that recent rulings by the U.S. Patents and Trademark Office had vindicated his company`s right to use the disputed wireless e-mail technology that drives BlackBerry devices, the Financial Times said Thursday.