Nokia sues Apple over iPhone technology

Nokia, the mobile phone maker, is suing rival Apple over patent infringement on mobile phone technology used in the iPhone.

iPhone

The legal battle is over 10 patents for wireless data, speech coding, security and encryption, that the Finnish telecoms company claims Apple has infringed in all models of the iPhone since it was introduced in 2007.

Nokia says Apple is “attempting to get a free ride on the back of Nokia’s innovation”.

It says that while 40 other companies, including most mobile phone makers, have signed licensing agreements to use Nokia’s technology, Apple has not.

Ilkka Rahnasto, Nokia vice president, legal and intellectual property says: “The basic principle in the mobile industry is that those companies who contribute in technology development to establish standards create intellectual property, which others then need to compensate for.”

Last week the Finnish mobile phone maker reported its first quarterly loss in more than 10 years.