Nokia launches global legal battle against Apple

By Barry Eitel

SAN FRANCISCO

Nokia announced Thursday it has launched 40 lawsuits in 11 countries against Apple over technology patents related to the iPhone.

The slew of lawsuits name 32 specific technological patents owned by the Finnish company that was once the largest cell phone manufacturer in the world, that it said Apple infringed upon with its iPhone, first released in 2007.

Specifically, Nokia’s patent complaints cover features like smartphone display, user interface, software, antenna, chipsets and video coding.

Suits were filed in Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, U.K and the U.S.

The lawsuit filed with the U.S. District Court in Texas involves more than 18 patents, the most named in one case. Nokia also filed suit with the International Trade Commission, headquartered in the U.S.

Apple and Nokia have clashed for years regarding smartphone patents, although a deal was reached in 2011 for Apple to license certain Nokia patented inventions in its iPhone.

According to Nokia, Apple still uses technologies invented by Nokia and has refused to ink more licensing agreements, which is why the international legal assault was launched.

"Through our sustained investment in research and development, Nokia has created or contributed to many of the fundamental technologies used in today's mobile devices, including Apple products,” Ilkka Rahnasto, the head of patent business at Nokia, said in a statement. “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."

Nokia ruled the mobile phone market from 1998 to 2011, when it opted to partner with Microsoft and utilize the ill-fated Windows mobile operating system.

In 2014, it sold its flailing cell phone division to Microsoft for $7.2 billion.

Nokia’s stock was down about 0.5 percent to $4.74 in afternoon trading amid the news. Apple’s stock was also down about 1 percent, sliding to $115.98 per share.