Nokia Files Fresh Patent Violation Suit Against Apple

Nokia has filed fresh patent infringement claims against Apple in the UK, Germany and the Netherlands, alleging that Apple infringed its patents in many of its products sold in these countries, including iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

The Finnish cellphone giant, which is already engaged in a legal battle over smartphone technology with Apple, now has 37 claims against California-based Apple.

These actions add 13 further Nokia patents to the 24 already asserted against Apple in the US International Trade Commission and the Delaware and Wisconsin Federal courts, said Paul Melin, vice president, Intellectual Property at Nokia.

The Nokia inventions protected by these patents include several which enable compelling user experiences. For example, 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, said Melin.

Nokia's filing in the UK covers 4 Nokia patents related to touch user interface, on-device app stores, signal noise suppression and modulator structures, while filing in Dusseldorf, Germany covers 7 Nokia patents related to touch user interface, antenna structures, messaging functionality and chipsets.

Nokia's filing in Mannheim, Germany covers 5 Nokia patents related to on-device app stores, caller ID, display illumination and the integration of multiple radios and filing in the Hague, Netherlands covers 2 Nokia patents related to signal noise suppression and data card functionality.

None of the asserted patents have been declared essential to any wireless communication standard, Nokia said.

During the last two decades, Nokia has invested about 40 billion euros in research and development and built one of the wireless industry's strongest and broadest IPR portfolios, with around 11,000 patent families.