Qualcomm defeated in patent dispute with Nokia

The British High Court has declared that the disputed patents in the patent suit between chip manufacturer Qualcomm and Nokia are broadly invalid. The action, which has been ongoing since May 2006, concerned three patents for GSM technology. Qualcomm's accusations against Nokia include that it has infringed its patents by equipping certain second generation (GSM/GPRS) mobile phones with energy management systems. As both companies have now revealed, the judge decided that the patents were broadly invalid. In one case the patent was partially valid, but had not been infringed by Nokia.

Advertisement

Nokia is celebrating the fact that Qualcomm has, to date, failed to win a single case concerning GSM patents. "This is the second court to conclude that Qualcomm does not have relevant and valid GSM patents," commented Nokia's chief financial officer Rick Simonson. The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has already declared one of three Qualcomm patents to be invalid and rejected an appeal. Both actions concerned similar patents from the same family, as confirmed by Nokia.

Nokia and Qualcomm are entangled in numerous patent disputes, concerning in particular, technical procedures for third generation mobiles (UMTS/WCDMA). Qualcomm has been keen to stress that the latest court defeat concerns 2G patents. According to Nokia, there are currently eleven cases which are suspended awaiting the result of mediation in the US state of Delaware. Qualcomm is emphasising that the British action is not part of the ceasefire and is considering an appeal.

(trk)