Nokia settles 2G patent battle

Nokia has paid $253m in a settlement with InterDigital over a patent licensing agreement between the two companies signed back in 1999. 

However, Nokia seems to believe that it got off cheap, following a statement by its vice president of intellectual property rights.

"Our prior contract agreement required us to respect the settlements that Ericsson and Sony Ericsson entered in 2003, but there was a dispute about the impact those other settlements should have on Nokia," said Ilkka Rahnasto.

"This case demonstrates that legal disputes are sometimes necessary in order to lower unrealistic demands."

The dispute arose because Nokia was worried about InterDigital's licences for 2G products with Ericsson and Sony Ericsson. 

"Under the settlement agreements Nokia obtains a fully paid-up, perpetual, irrevocable licence to all of InterDigital's current patent portfolio, and any patents InterDigital may later acquire, for purposes of making or selling 2G products, including handsets and infrastructure," said a Nokia statement.

The settlement also resolves disputes related to all Nokia products up to the agreement date.

See also:

Nokia and MIT to build phones of the future

Researchers working on speech control and web services  27 Apr 2006

Nokia beefs up R&D in China

Handset giant expands mobile infrastructure R&D centre in Sichuan in China  18 Apr 2006

China's mobile firms besieged by Nokia

Local handset makers suffer as Finnish giant grabs a quarter of the market  18 Apr 2006

Nokia revs up £1000 Aston Martin phone

Licensed to thrill, if you've got a spare grand  16 Apr 2006

Nokia to sell 100m cameraphones in 2006

Chief exec says firm has 20 per cent cost advantage over rivals  31 Mar 2006

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