patent war between Nokia and Apple continues

5:58 AM // 0 comments // ngsk // Category: Apple , News , Nokia , Technology //

Reply to the case filled by Apple against Nokia on 15 January with the US International Trade Commission (ITC) asking to block Nokia imports to the US – Nokia said tht it will study case file and defend it vigorously.

This is a long time fight between Nokia and Apple when Nokia first filled a patent case in October last year against Apple stating tht it infringed 10 of its patents in technologies like wireless data transfer, a key factor in the success of iPhone.

The patents also cover speech coding, security and encryption

In reply Apple came with a lawsuit against Nokia saying tht Nokia copied 13 of its features which infringed its patents.

Nokia dominates the global mobile industry but due to entry of new high end mobiles into market by manufacturers like Apple losing its market since 2007 when Apple released its first model of iPhone.
Nokia had strongest patent portfolio in wireless space, along with Ericsson and Qualcomm.

Following is an outline of the battle:

In October, Nokia filed its first suit in the U.S. District Court of Delaware, saying Apple had infringed 10 patents in technologies like wireless data transfer. The patents also cover speech coding, security and encryption.

Later Apple countersued in December, claiming Nokia is infringing 13 Apple patents. Nokia will have time until Feb. 8 to respond to this filing.
Cases like this usually last two to three years.

Apple last week also filed a complaint against Nokia with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC).

Nokia has cross-licensing agreements with 40 companies, including all top mobile phone makers except Apple.

ATTACKING PATENTS

The Delaware cases could be stayed for re-examination of patents or for the duration of ITC investigation.

It is unlikely someone could make a mobile phone without using technologies Nokia has patented but lawyers have said that would not prevent Apple from questioning the patents.

Nokia has successfully attacked the patents held by Qualcomm as part of a major global legal fight that lasted between 2005 and 2008, and also those of InterDigital earlier this year.

Apple could ask the U.S. Patent Office to invalidate the patents or to review them. This process, called interparty re-examination, could take six to seven years.

"It would definitely cause a ripple in the industry if Apple were to invalidate those patents. Where would it put all the other companies?" Hornsby said.

To know where these Patent wars will lead to and how it will impact total mobile phone market, we have to wait and c.