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Nokia Claims Apple Does "Legal Alchemy" To Mask IP Theft
CWmike writes "Nokia asked a federal judge last week to toss out Apple's antitrust claims, saying the iPhone maker indulged in 'legal alchemy' when it tried to divert attention from its infringement of Nokia's intellectual property. The filing was the latest salvo in a battle that began in October 2009 when handset maker Nokia sued Apple, saying the iPhone infringed on 10 of its patents, and that Apple was trying 'to get a free ride on the back of Nokia's innovation.' Apple countered in December with a lawsuit of its own that not only claimed Nokia infringed 13 of its patents, but that Nokia also violated antitrust law by legally attacking Apple after it declined to pay what it called 'exorbitant royalties' and refused to give Nokia access to iPhone patents. 'These non-patent counterclaims are designed to divert attention away from free-riding off of Nokia's intellectual property, a practice Apple evidently believes should only be of paramount concern when it is the alleged victim,' Nokia charged in the motion. Apple is on a legal roll, having also recently sued the maker of Google's Nexus One, HTC, for patent infringement."
But Nokia wanted more from Apple for these patents than they did from anyone else.
What, exactly? I don't know
Nokia demanded in addition to the money that Apple let them use, royalty free, a number of Apple patents.
As you note, this is not exactly "non-discriminatory" since Nokia makes no-one else do this.
That is why in the end the Nokia suit will be dismissed, and as you note they may well face additional punishment from the standards body they claimed to offer the patents under RAND terms to.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
How is the hardware R&D any more valid than software R&D? I have a hard time figuring out this distinction. So far as I can tell, if you're against software patents, you're either against all patents, or you're a hypocrite.
Where's the trolling in my post? I am merely pointing out what seems to be being left out of these discussions - the actual nature of the cases.
I guess there's someone with a serious axe to grind against Apple with mod points. Shame.
Apple may be litigious, but it's not stupid
Have you tried to resize a window in Mac OSX ? Only from the bottom right corner! Tell me that UI decision is not stupid?
I don't know who to trust here
You're not being asked to "trust" anyone here... you dont have to make a decision, you're not a federal court judge (unless of course, you are, pardons your honour).
Even if you did make some sort of moral decision, its pointless; as your decisions in this, matter little to the parties that be.