Nokia Seeks More Leverage In the Forever Mobile Patent War

ericjones12398 writes "Struggling cell phone manufacturer Nokia launched a recent attack in both German and U.S. courts, filing lawsuits against HTC, RIM, and ViewSonic, alleging a laundry list of infringements on 45 patents pertaining to mobile software and hardware. Nokia also filed a meaty complaint against HTC at the International Trade Commission in Washington requesting select mobile devices be banned from sale in the U.S. According to Louise Pentland, Nokia's chief legal officer, 'Nokia had to file these actions to end the unauthorized use of our proprietary innovations and technologies, which have not been widely licensed.' Chief among the ITC complaint was patent 5,570,369, a power saver designed for the GSM system and based on TDMA technology. Although, on the surface, '369 appears to have been tossed in the recycle bin with other 2G relics, the 1996 patent helps serve as a warning shot to competitors recycling Nokia's technology. At the same time it reveals a possible ulterior motive to stop Google's momentum. HTC seems to be straight in the crosshairs of Nokia's legal assault, with three relevant – and curious — phones singled out in the ITC complaint. HTC's Sensation 4G, Amaze 4G and Inspire 4G are all driven by Android. While similar phones based on the Windows Phone platform were missing from Nokia's accusations."

Comments

Patent Attacks

[TaoPhoenix]

"Has Been" launched a patent attack against "who" "Who" and "Who".

I don't trust anything Nokia does anymore now that Elop is there.

Re:Patent Attacks

[Urkki]

Too bad Nokia's products suck so bad that they don't have any customers left to "pay up".

Latest incarnation of Symbian did definitely not suck (and they're still available and supported). N9 is one of a kind, the only current real phone which can use "Linux software" as it is commonly understood. Lumia line... well... it's not Nokia's fault MS still can't make a mobile OS, even when they have tried for so many years. Despite this, they're pretty ok actually, having used one for a few months.

But the future of Nokia, as well as future of MS mobile ambitions, lies in WP8. If they manage to fix even half of the WP7's problems, it'll make great phones, even if it's "MS inside".

Re:Patent Attacks

[ozmanjusri]

For the love of god, can we hear one good thing about WP7 that is not from an AC?

It's unlikely.

Microsoft spent an enormous amount of money (half a billion dollars) with online and MSM reputation managers trying to generate a buzz around the "brilliant but misunderstood" WP7, but the reality for just about everyone who used one was that they're limited, corporate-kindergarten ugly, and shallow. I've tried a couple of their phones, including a recent Lumia and decided they bring nothing new to the table. Certainly nothing to attract people away from Android or iOS.

Now that the deluge of astroturf is subsiding, real reviews are rising to the surface. This was one discussed here recently.
http://communities-dominate.blogs.com/brands/2012/03/brutal-truth-about-lumia-cannot-sustain-even-1-to-1-replacement-of-symbian-windows-phone-strategy-do.html

No Windows Phone

[jesseck]

While similar phones based on the Windows Phone platform were missing from Nokia's accusations.

Of course not... Nokia and Windows are in a partnership. I imagine the *official* reason Windows Phone isn't mentioned is because Nokia already "licensed" Microsoft (and therefore Windows Phone) to use said patents, and Nokia is allowing Microsoft to indemnify Windows Phone manufacturers from prosecution for using those patents.

Right, this is going to fix what, exactly?

[bmo]

So Elop is taking a former powerhouse of a company and turning it into a patent troll. I'm so fucking impressed. It's as if Elop is *deliberately* trying to sink the company by making stupid decisions and avoiding core competencies.

This is the most rapid "controlled flight into terrain" that I've seen a large company do.

The "Burning Platform" memo went out in February of 2011. Look at the chart before - Nokia was slowly digging itself out of the hole. Look at the chart after. Just look at it.

http://ompldr.org/vZWQzcw/charting.the.charts.png

Source: Yahoo Finance NOK chart. Linear scale. 2 year.

That's right, Elop, there's your fuckin' record.

Good job destroying a company.

--
BMO

Elop and Balmer are going to prison

[Anonymous Coward]

The board of Nokia will be in there with them. This is multi billion dollar fraud.

Nokia was increasing sales prior to Elop. It was losing market share yes but was increasing sales and had credible alternatives to Symbian to switch to.

Now, symbian phones are still outselling windows phone despite the advertising but they are bundling the figures together to hide the failure that is WP.

Re:Sad...

[Anonymous Coward]

...But Nokia's phones are fine. In fact, that new Lumia phone is pretty awesome. I used one for a few minutes and it makes my phone look junky.

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