Qualcomm Dealt Another Blow in Fight Against Nokia
Qualcomm lost a key court case in the United Kingdom in its long-running battle with Nokia over patents. It was the second loss for Qualcomm in a week, after the U.S. International Trade Commission last week rejected Qualcomm’s petition for review of a December decision that Nokia doesn’t infringe three alleged Qualcomm patents. Both companies are scheduled to square off this summer in Delaware as a court there holds what’s expected to be a hearing consolidating various lawsuits and countersuits.
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The U.K. High Court said the Nokia handsets included Qualcomm patented technologies, but a power saving patent is invalid and a power control patent is partially valid but not infringed by Nokia. High Court Justice David Floyd ruled the first patent invalid because of a “lack of novelty” and “obviousness,” and four claims on the second patent were invalid because of a “lack of inventive step.” Qualcomm filed a complaint against the Finnish handset maker in May 2006, charging that it was infringing its patents on GSM handsets.
“We are pleased with the Court’s decision that the patent claims are invalid and believe it is consistent with and supported by the facts,” said Rick Simonson, Nokia’s chief financial officer. “The U.K. High Court and U.S. ITC findings are further evidence of Qualcomm overstating its position as an industry innovator and demanding compensation for patents that are not relevant or valid.”
Qualcomm said it’s “actively considering whether to seek permission from the U.K. court to amend the patents and appeal the decision.” Qualcomm has filed 11 lawsuits around the world against Nokia in the past two years.