30th Mar 11
Nokia files second patent complaint against Apple
by Katie Naylor
Nokia has filed another complaint against Apple. The Finnish telecommunications firm, which has accused Apple of infringing its patents, filed the complaint at the International Trade Commission in the USA.
Nokia says several of Apple’s products copy technology it had developed. The latest complaint from Nokia, its second against Apple, follows a ruling a week ago that found in favour of Apple over a similar patent case.
Nokia’s latest complaint alleges Apple to have infringed technology covered by seven patents held by Nokia. The mobile giant, which is based in Espoo, Finland, claims Apple has used Nokia’s technology to develop core product features regarding the multi-tasking abilities of its operating systems, the synchronisation of data, the integration of Bluetooth accessories, positioning systems, and call quality.
Nokia and Apple have been involved in legal battles for about 18 months. The litigation started in October, 2009, when Nokia sued Apple, accusing the maker of iPhones and iPads of having infringed 10 patents.
At the time, Nokia demanded Apple pay it royalties from the sales of millions of iPhones since the legendary smartphone first appeared in 2007. In the months since, both companies have alleged patent infringements by the other.
The war has escalated, with ever-increasing numbers of patents being identified in subsequent legal statements. The technologies involved cover everything from user interfaces to audio and camera engineering.
In the latest statement, Paul Melin, Nokia’s VP for intellectual property, says that Nokia now has 46 of its patents involved in lawsuits against Apple. He adds that many of the patents concerned were filed more than a decade before the first iPhone appeared.
The body handling the legal complaints, the International Trade Commission, is an independent entity with the authority to freeze the importation of products deemed to be infringing US patents. In its latest complaint, Nokia is seeking to block imports of Apple gadgets, including the iPad, the iPhone and the iPod Touch, as well as the company’s popular MacBook laptop computer.
An Apple spokesperson said the company had nothing to say about the latest Nokia complaint. On 25 March, a judge at the ITC ruled in favour of a complaint by Apple that refuted Nokia’s allegation that it was infringing on five patents. The judge’s decision can be reviewed by the commission but it will be two months before the six-member panel announces whether it is to review the ruling.
Apple’s allegations against Nokia are broken down into two cases, one of which also includes claims by Apple of patent infringement by smartphone maker HTC. That particular case is scheduled to open next month. The other case, in which Nokia is the sole defendant, should be completed by June 24.
Our Stories
- Tesco store managers see annual bonuses cut
- Royal Mail: half London sorting office to be sold
- Panasonic announces £3.4bn loss
- Thomas Cook attacks government over holidays at home promotion
- Clinton Cards falls into administration
- Wet April sees high street spending fall
- Five tough years ahead for UK jobs market
- Deal struck to save Thomas Cook
- Discount battle leads to sales decline at Morrisons
- Wetherspoon founder: pubs plans to be hit by taxes
- Stores in doubt as Argos profits fall
- Heathrow to increase landing fees
Popular Topics
afghanistan al qaeda amazon Apple ASDA bank of england barack obama BBC british airways china david cameron Debenhams Egypt facebook george osborne Google India ipad iphone ivory coast japan Libya London M&S Marks & Spencer Morrisons nhs North Korea Office for National Statistics pakistan protests russia Sainsbury’s South Korea terrorism Tesco Tunisia UK UK retailers UK retail news UK shopping us Waitrose Wikileaks x factorArchive
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- January 2009
