Nokia Sues Apple Alleging Patent Infringement--Update

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 [e-mail] and Matthias Verbergt at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 21, 2016 15:43 ET (20:43 GMT)

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