Nokia today announced that it is filing a lawsuit against Apple claiming that the iPhone infringes on ten Nokia-held patents related to cellular and Wi-Fi technologies.
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.
Nokia notes that it has entered into licensing agreements for the intellectual property with approximately 40 other companies, but Apple has refused to agree to "appropriate terms".
"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."
No further details regarding the exact patents in question or Nokia's desired outcome have been released.
