New York: Nokia Corp. said on Wednesday that it had filed a number of lawsuits against Apple Inc. for violating 32 technology patents, that cover displays, software, user interfaces, chip sets, video coding, antennas and other functions.
The lawsuit filed in courts in Dusseldorf, Mannheim and Munich, Germany, and the U.S. Nokia, has sold its handset business to Microsoft in 2014 in a $7.2 billion deal seen as a costly mistake for Microsoft.
The statement from Nokia reads.”Since agreeing a license covering some patents from the Nokia Technologies portfolio in 2011, Apple has declined subsequent offers made by Nokia to license other of its patented inventions which are used by many of Apple’s products.”
Apple had also had taken legal action on Tuesday against Acacia Research Corp (ACTG.O) and Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc [GEGGIM.UL], accusing them of colluding with Nokia to extract and extort exorbitant revenues unfairly from Apple.
Apple spokesman Josh Rosenstock said.”We’ve always been willing to pay a fair price to secure the rights of patents covering technology in our products.”
He added.”Unfortunately, Nokia has refused to license their patents on a fair basis and is now using the tactics of a patent troll to attempt to extort money from Apple by applying a royalty rate to Apple’s own inventions they had nothing to do with.”
Nokia said through its investments in research and development, it has contributed many fundamental technologies used in Apple’s products.
Ilkka Rahnasto, head of patent business at Nokia, said in a statement that.”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.”
Shares of Nokia were down 2 percent Wednesday in afternoon trade. Apple’s stock was little changed.