Nokia Opens New Front in Patent War Against Apple

The patent infringement battle between Nokia and Apple is rapidly escalating. Nokia has filed a new complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) against the iPhone maker, claming that almost all of its products infringe Nokia’s patents.

According to the Finnish giant’s press release, the complaint involves 7 patents that concern some of the key features, including user interface, camera, antenna and power management technologies. The company alleges that "virtually all" of Apple’s mobile phones, portable music players and computers, which include the iPhones, iPods and Macs, are using some Nokia’s know-how.

The complaint marks the latest development of the ongoing patent dispute started by Nokia back in October 2009. The handset vendor filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Delaware, charging that the popular iPhone violates 10 of Nokia’s patents. In response, in early December 2009, the California-based maker denied the accusation and struck back with a countersue against Nokia for allegedly copying certain aspects of the iPhone and infringing 13 of Apple’s technological patents.

And now the legal war continues with Nokia’s new filing with the ITC.

"While our litigation in Delaware is about Apple's attempt to free-ride on the back of Nokia’s investment in wireless standards, the ITC case filed today is about Apple's practice of building its business on Nokia's propriety innovation," said Paul Mellin, Nokia’s Patent Licensing General Manager.

Apple was not immediately available for comment. But in its countersue documents, it claimed that in response to the sudden market change brought by the launch of iPhone, "Nokia chose to copy the iPhone, especially its enormously popular and patented design and user interface…."

It is hard to determine whether this statement is true or not, but Apple has indeed been gaining massive growth since its entry to the smartphone industry in mid-2007. On the other hand, Nokia, the world’s top cell phone maker, has been losing ground over the last couple of years. Considering their competitive relationship, it seems the patent disputes will not be easily settled.

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