Nokia Sues Apple Alleging Patent Infringement--Update
December 21 2016 - 3:58PM
Dow Jones News
By Joshua Jamerson and Matthias Verbergt
Nokia Corp. said Wednesday it has filed complaints against Apple
Inc. in Germany and the U.S., alleging that Apple products infringe
a number of Nokia patents.
Nokia's actions -- which it said include 32 patents -- have been
filed with the Regional Courts in Düsseldorf, Mannheim and Munich
in Germany and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of
Texas.
The patents cover technologies such as display, user interface,
software, antenna and video coding. Nokia said it is in the process
of filing further actions in other jurisdictions.
A representative for Apple wasn't immediately reachable to
comment.
In 2011, Apple agreed with Nokia on a license covering some of
Nokia's patent portfolio, but the Finnish company said Apple has
declined subsequent offers to pay for its patented inventions used
in Apple's products.
"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.
Once the world's largest cellphone maker, Nokia abandoned
mobile-device manufacturing in 2014, when it sold its mobile phone
business to Microsoft Corp. for EUR5.44 billion ($5.86 billion) to
focus on network equipment. But Nokia's patents still cover
technology used in many of today's smartphones and tablets.
As sales of networking equipment are in decline world-wide owing
to lower spending by mobile service providers, Nokia is
increasingly dependent on its highly profitable patent business.
Last year, revenue from Nokia's patent portfolio amounted to
EUR1.02 billion, or 8% of its total sales.
A year ago, Apple and Nokia rival Ericsson AB ended a similar
patent dispute, saying they had reached a global license
agreement.
Write to Joshua Jamerson at joshua.jamerson@wsj.com and Matthias
Verbergt at Matthias.Verbergt@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
December 21, 2016 15:43 ET (20:43 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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