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Nokia Sues Apple, Claims Patent Infringement in iPhone and Other Devices (marketwatch.com)

Posted by msmash on from the patent-war dept.

Nokia today announced a number of patent infringement complaints against Apple in Europe and the U.S. courts. There are 32 patents in total that Nokia claims Apple infringed, covering technologies such as display, user interface, software, antenna, chipsets and video coding. From a report on MarketWatch: Nokia said Apple agreed to license a few of Nokia Technologies' patents in 2011, but has declined offers by Nokia since then to license other patents whose inventions have been used in Apple mobile devices, including the iPhone and iPad, and the Mac. The lawsuits, filed in a Munich, Germany, regional court and a district court in Texas, cover technologies such as display, user interface, software, antenna, chipsets and video coding. Nokia said it's in the process of filing further actions in other jurisdictions as well. "After several years of negotiations trying to reach agreement to cover Apple's use of these patents, we are now taking action to defend our rights," said Ilkka Rahnasto, head of patent business at Nokia.

13 of 77 comments (clear)

  1. Grief stage 6 by tripleevenfall · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Grief stage 6... patent trolling.

    1. Re:Grief stage 6 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Apple mainly has design patents for things like swipe bounce and round corners. Plus they still have to go through stages 1-5.

      Apple is a notorious technical patent thief who sued another company for design patent thievery and is now being sued for technical patent thievery. What's that you say? It's the smell of deliciously stewed Karma.

    2. Re:Grief stage 6 by gravewax · · Score: 5, Informative

      It isn't patent trolling when you actually did invent the stuff, used it and tried to license it.

    3. Re:Grief stage 6 by sycodon · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Software and interface patents just need to die.

      Billions spent and still computers suck.

      --
      When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
  2. Once the largest cell phone company by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Now reduced to patent troll tears. I wonder if this is just a Microsoft proxy war. I guess BB will be the next company to do nothing but sue for patent infringement.

    If you can, do. If you can't, teach. If you can't teach, create a patent holding company.

    1. Re:Once the largest cell phone company by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      It's SCO all over again.

    2. Re:Once the largest cell phone company by gravewax · · Score: 2

      how is this in any way similar to SCO? Nokia actually invented the stuff and patented and even licensed it out. Unless you are comparing Apple to SCO in that they are both a bunch of money grubbing pricks?

    3. Re:Once the largest cell phone company by cdrudge · · Score: 2

      I wonder if this is just a Microsoft proxy war.

      Not likely since this is Nokia Corp, what was left after Microsoft acquired Nokia's mobile handset business. Nokia Corp kept the patents to license to other manufacturers as part of the Microsoft deal.

    4. Re:Once the largest cell phone company by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Are you aware that Apple are infringing on many patents, genuine patents and real innovations as opposed to their own "patents" of sliding a button to the side etc.? They rely on their size to get away with it, but nevertheless, they are infringing on patents.

      Companies like Ericsson and Nokia "do" and "teach" like you say, while companies like Apple just sue to get their way.

  3. Re:They must get their tech news from Slashdot. by The+Grim+Reefer · · Score: 4, Informative

    Thank goodness someone told Nokia about this hip new iPhone device so they could take action before years went by or something.

    I thought the same thing, until I read the last sentence of TFS:

    "After several years of negotiations trying to reach agreement to cover Apple's use of these patents, we are now taking action to defend our rights," said Ilkka Rahnasto, head of patent business at Nokia.

    It sounds like they tried to avoid going to court for several years. At least that' what I got out of TFS.

  4. declined "offers" ? by Black+Parrot · · Score: 2, Insightful

    That's the drill: when you're trying to shake someone down, you call it an 'offer'.

    --
    Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  5. A District Court in Texas by Volfied · · Score: 4, Insightful

    A District Court in Texas, eh? I wonder which one...

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

  6. Re:Hwo did Apple ... by cdrudge · · Score: 2

    The tire manufacturer has a patent on rounded corners obviously.