Nokia Sues Apple over GSM, UMTS and WLAN Patent Infringements

Espoo, Finland-based mobile phone maker Nokia has announced today that it has filed a complaint against computer maker Apple with the Federal District Court in Delaware, stating that Apple's iPhone mobile device infringes patents the Finnish handset vendor owns for GSM, UMTS and wireless LAN (WLAN) standards.

According to the phone maker, it accounts for one of the broadest patent portfolios in the industry, a proof of its leading position as an innovator in wireless communications, and has invested more than EUR40 billion in R&D during the past 20 years. Most of the company's patents, including those in suit, have been already declared essential to industry standards. There are more than 40 companies Nokia has successfully entered into license agreements with over the patents, and almost all of the leading mobile phone vendors are now benefiting from the company's innovation.

There are ten patents in this suit, all of which are related to fundamental technologies that make a mobile device compatible with one or more of the current GSM, UMTS (3G WCDMA) and wireless LAN standards. According to Nokia, the patents cover wireless data, speech coding, security and encryption, and all Apple iPhone models shipped since 2007 infringe them.

“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.”

Nokia also adds that its investments in research have enabled it to build one of the strongest and broadest IPR portfolios in the wireless industry, which includes more than 10,000 patent families. The company's strong patent position in these technologies demonstrates the fact that it is a leader in the development of GSM technologies and in the evolution to UMTS / 3G WCDMA, not to mention the wireless LAN technology area.