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Apple Agrees To Pay Licensing Fees To Nokia

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the money-makes-it-better dept.

dkd903 writes "After almost two years of litigation of Nokia and Apple suing and counter-suing each other, the patent war between the two companies has come to an end. The winner of this settlement is, however, Nokia. As a part of the settlement, Apple has agreed to become a licensee of Nokia's patents. As a part of the licensing agreement, Apple has agreed to give Nokia a one-time payment and ongoing royalties. The exact terms of the agreement have not been disclosed."

3 of 205 comments (clear)

  1. Windows Phone 7 by GordonBX · · Score: 1, Troll

    The real reason behind this is that Apple knows that Nokia won't be a threat now that they have decided to go with Windows. This way they get a license for all of Nokia's patents, and they get rid of one arm of the litigation. I bet the story would be different if Nokia had chosen Android.

  2. Bad news for Android makers by turb · · Score: 1, Troll

    Now with Apple and Nokia making up, users of Android are likely in for it next. Consider Apple has more than enough money to make Nokia go away and settle this suit. Apple almost makes more money in this space this all the mobile handset makers combined. This does imply that while the Android makers ship plenty of devices, (more than apple) they don't make a great deal of profit at it.

    Nokia is in need of money. A lot of money. So they went after Apple and Apple gave them what they wanted and needed. Apple while no friend of Nokia is slaughtering them in the market... course so is everyone else.

    However the next competitors to Nokia are the Android handset makers. Nokia needs more money, so I don't doubt we'll see more lawsuits but now aimed at Android.

  3. Re:$1 up front $0.01 per device by gnasher719 · · Score: 0, Troll

    And to remember: Nokia wanted access to some of Apple's user interface IP, probably to use that IP in Symbian. Now Nokia is going to build Windows phones, these patents wouldn't be Nokia's problem anymore, but Microsoft's problems. And the public's perception of the lawsuit may have changed: Two years ago it was the phone giant suing the little newcomer; now it looks more like a desperate move (when you can't succeed in the market you try to "monetize your intellectual property").