Nokia today sued Apple claiming iPhone patent infringement. Nokia’s press release, verbatim:
Nokia sues Apple in Delaware District Court for infringement of Nokia GSM, UMTS and WLAN patents
October 22, 2009
Espoo, Finland – Nokia announced that it has today filed a complaint against Apple with the Federal District Court in Delaware, alleging that Apple’s iPhone infringes Nokia patents for GSM, UMTS and wireless LAN (WLAN) standards.
As a leading innovator in wireless communications, Nokia has created one of the strongest and broadest patent portfolios in the industry, investing more than EUR 40 billion in R&D during the last two decades. Much of this intellectual property, including the patents in suit, has been declared essential to industry standards. Nokia has already successfully entered into license agreements including these patents with approximately 40 companies, including virtually all the leading mobile device vendors, allowing the industry to benefit from Nokia’s innovation.
The ten patents in suit relate to technologies fundamental to making devices which are compatible with one or more of the GSM, UMTS (3G WCDMA) and wireless LAN standards. The patents cover wireless data, speech coding, security and encryption and are infringed by all Apple iPhone models shipped since the iPhone was introduced in 2007.
“The basic principle in the mobile industry is that those companies who contribute in technology development to establish standards create intellectual property, which others then need to compensate for,” said Ilkka Rahnasto, Vice President, Legal & Intellectual Property at Nokia. “Apple is also expected to follow this principle. By refusing to agree appropriate terms for Nokia’s intellectual property, Apple is attempting to get a free ride on the back of Nokia’s innovation.”
During the last two decades, Nokia has invested approximately EUR 40 billion in research and development and built one of the wireless industry’s strongest and broadest IPR portfolios, with over 10,000 patent families. Nokia is a world leader in the development of GSM technologies and its evolution to UMTS / 3G WCDMA as well as wireless LAN, which is also demonstrated by Nokia’s strong patent position in these technologies.
Source: Nokia
MacDailyNews Take: Can’t compete? Litigate.
@iStepchild….is your Dad also your mother’s sister?
Nokia and Apple have been talking about this over 2 years but they haven’t come to an agreement, hence the lawsuit.
Don’t ya ppl make an issue out of this, otherwise it comes back to hunt you when Apple makes similar claims against some other company.
It’s a wait and see…
In a market driven world, it is survival of the fittest. Innovate or revert back to a Finnish lumber company.
By the time this is likely thrown out of court, Apple innovation and world-wide customer demand for the LTE version of the iPhone will have vaporized another 20% of Nokia status quo.
I believe in giving credit where it’s due, so if Apple is infringing, then boo on them . . .
That being said . . . Nokia, your Market Cap is on 49B . . . a couple more good quarters and Apple can buy your sorry @$$3$ . . . not that they’d want to.
Steve Jobs January 2007: And boy, have we patented it!
Steve Jobs October 2009: And boy, have we patented it?
Predictable outcome: Apple files a counter suit. In a year’s time there is a quiet article saying that they have made an agreement to exchange patent portfolios.
Just my guess… i didnt read anyone else’s comment…
Nokia was smart… waiting for the right time to try to pull this off. Trying to leverage this deal… BEFORE Apple sues them for interface infringements.
This is hilarious…
There could be a settlement out there. By that time, Apple might have $50 U.S. Billion in the bank.
My guess is Apple countersues.
And really… in this case other handset producers will be interested. A precedent here will affect EVERYONE… LG, Samsung, HTC, MSFT, Siemens, Moto, Panasonic, Sony/Ericcson, RIMM, did i miss anyone?
But… NOKIA is going after the biggest threat with the most $$$ 1st.
I think that Nokia is trying to get apple to cross licence their patents. This way atleast they will get some cards in their hand else it is increasingly difficult to get Apple to negotiating table.