Nokia has just announced that it has filed a complaint against Apple, for using its GSM, UMTS and WLAN standards in the process of making the iPhone. The complaint has been filed with the Federal District of Delaware and the suit covers 10 patents related to basic technologies used to create most phones.
It appears that the patents cover wireless data, speech coding, encryption and security and the infringement applies to all iPhone models, from the very first one introduced in 2007. Since Nokia has invested billions in R&D over the years, it’s only logical that they own most important patents and have won license agreements with 40 companies till now.
The principle is fairly basic: a company creates a new technology, turns it into a standard and requires compensation, if others use the intellectual property associated with the new technology. Apple must also comply with the rules, or pay the price of its misbehaviour.
[via Nokia]
