Nokia's war with Apple heats up thanks to new complaint
• Latest salvo in war between technology rivals
• iPhone, iPod and Mac computers targeted in complaint
Mobile phone giant Nokia has stepped up its dispute with Apple by claiming that "virtually all" of the Californian company's products infringe its patents.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Finnish handset manufacturer said that Apple was unlawfully using proprietary Nokia technology to help power its best-selling iPhones, iPods and Macintosh computers.
"Nokia has been the leading developer of many key technologies in small electronic devices" said Nokia's Paul Melin. "This action is about protecting the results of such pioneering development."
It is the latest salvo in an ongoing – and increasingly acrimonious - battle between the two companies. After licensing negotiations broke down earlier this year, the rivals launched a flurry of claims against each other in the courts.
In October, Nokia filed a lawsuit in Delaware claiming that Apple's iPhone was infringing a number of its wireless technology patents and demanding payment for every handset sold.
Apple responded earlier this month by launching its own countersuit, suggesting that Nokia had copied the iPhone and infringed a number of its own patents in the process. Lawyers for the Californian company also claimed that Nokia had refused to license other technologies on fair terms.
Nokia's latest complaint, made to US regulator International Trade Commission, marks a serious step up in hostilities since it covers almost all of Apple's major products.
"While our litigation in Delaware is about Apple's attempt to free-ride on the back of Nokia investment in wireless standards, the ITC case filed today is about Apple's practice of building its business on Nokia's proprietary innovation," the company said.
Among the infringements claimed by Nokia in its latest complaint are elements of user interface, camera and power management systems – a broad set of allegations that strike at some of Apple's most popular and enduring products.
Since it launched at the beginning of the decade, the iPod has become the market leader in digital music. Meanwhile the Macintosh computer brand, which is now more than 25 years old, has been revitalised – with laptop range proving particularly popular.
But the heart of the dispute is the battle for dominance in the high-end mobile phone market, seen by many industry insiders as the next major frontier in consumer electronics.
As the world's largest mobile phone manufacturer, responsible for around 40% of all handsets sold worldwide each year, Nokia has long held a position of dominance.
The arrival of the iPhone in 2007, however, has upset the balance of power and forced rival manufacturers to develop their own touch-sensitive handsets.
In addition, the iPhone's popularity with high-spending customers has given the Californian company a major boost – leading to the moment last quarter when, for the first time, Apple overtook Nokia as the most profitable mobile manufacturer, despite its smaller sales.
The ITC usually takes up to 30 days to rule on whether it will pursue a complaint, indicating that the basis of Nokia's claims will be weighed up by the end of January. The court cases, meanwhile, are not expected to be heard until 2011.
Apple did not respond to a request for comment.
Bobbie Johnson, technology correspondent
Tuesday 29 December 2009 20.47 GMT
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2009
• Latest salvo in war between technology rivals
• iPhone, iPod and Mac computers targeted in complaint
Mobile phone giant Nokia has stepped up its dispute with Apple by claiming that "virtually all" of the Californian company's products infringe its patents.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Finnish handset manufacturer said that Apple was unlawfully using proprietary Nokia technology to help power its best-selling iPhones, iPods and Macintosh computers.
"Nokia has been the leading developer of many key technologies in small electronic devices" said Nokia's Paul Melin. "This action is about protecting the results of such pioneering development."
It is the latest salvo in an ongoing – and increasingly acrimonious - battle between the two companies. After licensing negotiations broke down earlier this year, the rivals launched a flurry of claims against each other in the courts.
In October, Nokia filed a lawsuit in Delaware claiming that Apple's iPhone was infringing a number of its wireless technology patents and demanding payment for every handset sold.
Apple responded earlier this month by launching its own countersuit, suggesting that Nokia had copied the iPhone and infringed a number of its own patents in the process. Lawyers for the Californian company also claimed that Nokia had refused to license other technologies on fair terms.
Nokia's latest complaint, made to US regulator International Trade Commission, marks a serious step up in hostilities since it covers almost all of Apple's major products.
"While our litigation in Delaware is about Apple's attempt to free-ride on the back of Nokia investment in wireless standards, the ITC case filed today is about Apple's practice of building its business on Nokia's proprietary innovation," the company said.
Among the infringements claimed by Nokia in its latest complaint are elements of user interface, camera and power management systems – a broad set of allegations that strike at some of Apple's most popular and enduring products.
Since it launched at the beginning of the decade, the iPod has become the market leader in digital music. Meanwhile the Macintosh computer brand, which is now more than 25 years old, has been revitalised – with laptop range proving particularly popular.
But the heart of the dispute is the battle for dominance in the high-end mobile phone market, seen by many industry insiders as the next major frontier in consumer electronics.
As the world's largest mobile phone manufacturer, responsible for around 40% of all handsets sold worldwide each year, Nokia has long held a position of dominance.
The arrival of the iPhone in 2007, however, has upset the balance of power and forced rival manufacturers to develop their own touch-sensitive handsets.
In addition, the iPhone's popularity with high-spending customers has given the Californian company a major boost – leading to the moment last quarter when, for the first time, Apple overtook Nokia as the most profitable mobile manufacturer, despite its smaller sales.
The ITC usually takes up to 30 days to rule on whether it will pursue a complaint, indicating that the basis of Nokia's claims will be weighed up by the end of January. The court cases, meanwhile, are not expected to be heard until 2011.
Apple did not respond to a request for comment.
Bobbie Johnson, technology correspondent
Tuesday 29 December 2009 20.47 GMT
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2009
