Apple Sues Nokia In Britain

Apple is suing Nokia in Britain, claiming that the phone giant has infringed nine patents, and extending a legal conflict which began in the US.

Nokia and Apple each claim the other is using patented technology without paying royalties – Nokia says Apple is “getting a free ride” on implementations of fundamental communications technology such as UMTS, GSM and wireless LAN, while Apple thinks recent Nokia phones infringe on aspects of the iPhone.

Troubled history

Negotiations between the two broke down and the legal battle started when Nokia sued Apple in October 2009. Apple counter-sued in December, and later sought to have Nokia phones banned.

The two companies are both indignant. “By refusing to agree [to] appropriate terms for Nokia’s intellectual property, Apple is attempting to get a free ride on the back of Nokia’s innovation,” Ilkka Rahnasto, vice president of Nokia’s legal and intellectual property division, said in October.

In Apple’s countersuit, Apple’s general counsel Bruce Sewell said: “Other companies must compete with us by inventing their own technologies, not just by stealing ours.”

Now, the argument looks like coming abroad to the UK.  “We are investigating the claims, which appear to be based on nine implementation patents already in suit between the two companies in the United States,” a Nokia UK spokesman told Reuters.

As with most patent tussles, the argument will go on for a long time yet. The US Federal Trade Commission is due to make a decision on some aspects in 2011, and court hearings are set in Delaware for 2012.

Apple has declined to comment on the legal battle.