The latest volley in a bitter legal feud over the popular BlackBerry came Thursday when tiny patent holder NTP Inc. accused the wireless e-mail device’s maker, Research In Motion Ltd., of using its political clout to try to sway the U.S. patent office.

“NTP believes that RIM has utilized its money, power and political influence to overcome its complete defeat in the court system and to inappropriately influence the U.S. Patent Office process,” Arlington, Va.-based NTP said in a statement Thursday.