Wireless software start-up Good Technology Inc. Tuesday filed suit against Research In Motion Ltd. over technology used in delivering wireless e-mail.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Sunnyvale, Calif.'s Good, which announced its intent to compete in the wireless software sector a few weeks ago, filed a suit that attacks RIM's patent on single unified e-mail. This, for instance, involves how data is delivered from a PC to a mobile device. The suit asks a federal court to declare that the patent is invalid, or at least that Good isn't infringing it.

Good has more or less taken such legal action as a preemptive strike, in anticipation of being sued by RIM for patent infringement. It would be impossible for RIM not to sit up and take notice of Good. After all, the company is first offering its wireless e-mail service on the RIM signature BlackBerry handheld.