Nokia sues Apple over patent infringements

by Jacquie Bowser, Brand Republic 23-Oct-09, 09:20

LONDON - Mobile giant Nokia is suing Apple for allegedly infringing patents on technology for the iPhone and is demanding royalty payments for the millions of iPhones sold since the device's launch in 2007.

The lawsuit, filed in a US Federal court in Delaware, claims infringement of 10 Nokia patents that relate to technologies for wireless data, speech coding, security and encryption.

Nokia claims the patents are "infringed by all Apple iPhone models shipped since the iPhone was introduced in 2007".

The Finnish company said it has made attempts to license the technology to Apple but that it has refused to provide compensation.

In its complaint, Nokia said Apple's actions have allowed it to charge less for its products, because it has not had to recover development costs. Nokia claims that it has spent about €40bn in research and development during the last two decades in mobile communications technologies.

Ilkka Rahnasto, vice president of legal and intellectual property at Nokia, said: "The basic principle in the mobile industry is that those companies who contribute in technology development to establish standards create intellectual property, which others then need to compensate.

"Apple is also expected to follow this principle. By refusing to agree appropriate terms for Nokia's intellectual property, Apple is attempting to get a free ride on the back of Nokia's innovation."

Nokia reported its first quarterly loss in more than a decade last week. In the three months to September 30, the company's smartphone market share slid to 35%, down from 41% in the second quarter, mainly as a result of it losing ground to the iPhone and Research in Motion's Blackberry.

Apple sold 7.4 million iPhones in the third quarter.

Comments

John Gallen - 23/10/2009

This will be a legal fight worth watching

Aaron Savage - 23/10/2009

Given how bloody awful the Nokia user interface is \(personal opinion) I find it hard to see how this is going to stick. Apple wouldn't stand firm unless they thought they had a case, The timing also smacks of desperation. Why now? Why not a year ago, why not at the launch of iPhone. Nokia is losing market share and posting losses whilst the iPhone conquers all in its wake. I smell deeper darker motives for this action. Maybe Nokia is trying to get noticed with a view to being bought?

Ehsan Khodarahmi - 23/10/2009

Aaron - how do you know if Nokia wasn't trying to discuss this privately with Apple? although it sounds like a PR move too. John - indeed it is a great legal case to watch.

AwallafaShagba - 23/10/2009

@ Aaron - what a load of cobblers. Apple have been caught out fiddling the patents law full stop. $40bn in R&D ? I smell bullshit. nokia have greater sales then apple in the mobile market by a very very long way. In fact Apple score 0.09% and Nokia have 48% of the market. Apple buying Nokia - I don't think so !! \(Source http://stats.getjar.com/statistics/)

Victor Guillen - 23/10/2009

Apple is an iconic brand but Nokia isn't. Apple is synonym of innovation and high performance and technology. No other company help to carry hi-tec like Apple did in the last 30 years. Poor Nokia...but the law is the law.

Ehsan Khodarahmi - 25/10/2009

It is just your personal opinion and I'm not sure if this is actually the case - Apple is just good at piggyback taking... but should admit that they know how to sell their products and with their money create barriers for others - Microsoft sued them now Nokia; this perhaps indicates something going wrong somewhere with the "brand" owner (my opinion of course).

AwallafaShagba - 26/10/2009

Where did you see this news about HTC being bought by Apple ??

Ehsan Khodarahmi - 26/10/2009

Good morning - I met a guy who is working in one of Apple Stores in London who told me about this and yet seen any release for it. If find anything will definitely email it across to you.