In what seems to be a never-ending legal drama, Nokia is suing Apple in U.S. courts for infringing on patents because of technology used in its computers, mobile phones, music players and tablets, according to news reports.
The Associated Press says that Nokia has claimed seven patents are at issue. They relate to "pioneering innovations" that Apple utilizes "to create key features in its products, including in multitasking operating systems, data synchronization, positioning, call quality and the use of Bluetooth accessories," the company said.
But the U.S. International Trade Commission recently found no violations in a previous complaint from Nokia against Apple, The AP said.
Nokia said it "is waiting to see the full details of the ruling before deciding on the next steps in that case," The AP adds.
"Our latest ITC filing means we now have 46 Nokia patents in suit against Apple, many filed more than 10 years before Apple made its first iPhone," Paul Melin, vice president of intellectual property at Nokia, told The AP. "Nokia is a leading innovator in technologies needed to build great mobile products and Apple must stop building its products using Nokia's proprietary innovation."
Nokia filed a lawsuit in 2010 against Apple in the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands for infringement on patents in technology used in iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices from Apple, the AP said. TechZone360 adds that the infringement relates to “touch-screen interfaces, app stores and antenna design.”
It appears that the touch-screen is the biggest alleged infringement that concerns Nokia, TechZone360 said. Nokia explains, “[We have patented] using a wiping gesture on a touch screen to navigate content, or enabling access to constantly changing services with an on-device app store, both filed more than ten years before the launch of the iPhone.”
Prior to the most recent suits, Nokia claimed that several Apple products infringed on its patents. In response, Apple also sued Nokia for patent infringement.
Nokia and Apple have been in litigation since October 2009, after Nokia filed a suit alleging that Apple infringed on 10 patents and requested royalties from the sales of millions of iPhones in the marketplace since 2007, according to The Boston Globe.
In the middle of the legal battle, Nokia also has been competing against Apple’s iPhone and RIM's Blackberry in the marketplace.
Ed Silverstein is a TechZone360 contributor. To read more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.Edited by
Janice McDuffee