Patent Wars Stories Part 3: [Follow-Up] Nokia Claims Nexus 7 Infringes Their Patents

[dgstorm]

Finally, we are at the last patent wars story of this three part series for the morning of July 3rd. If you are gagging right now, you are not alone. These are just as painful to write as they are to read, but we can't stop sharing the news just because it is unpleasant. This last story is a follow-up to one we posted previously. Within a day of the launch of the Google Nexus 7 tablet, Florian Mueller of Foss Patents, (who has admitted to being paid by Oracle for some of his seemingly anti-Google stories) came forward pointing out that the new Nexus 7 tablet violates some of Nokia's patents. He wrote an article and immediately requested a response from Nokia, practically before the dust even settled on the Nexus 7 launch. Nokia had not, and did not make any statements... until now.

Here's a quote from The Inquirer that shares Nokia's new stance on this matter,

A Nokia spokesperson told The INQUIRER, "Nokia has more than 40 licensees, mainly for its standards essential patent portfolio, including most of the mobile device manufacturers. Neither Google nor Asus is licensed under our patent portfolio.
"Companies who are not yet licensed under our standard essential patents should simply approach us and sign up for a license."

According to The INQUIRER, the news isn't all bad. The INQUIRER claims that Nokia is unlikely to seek injunctions against the Google Nexus 7, but will instead, request that Google or Asus obtain simply the proper licenses. Of course that is simply speculation on their part, but it does make sense as that is typically the way the Finnish company has operated in the past. We shall have to see what develops.

Source: TheInquirer.net

 

[johnomaz]

So wait...Nokia has a package of standard essential patents that companies should just pay a license fee for just in case they violate them? I mean, what are these licenses?

 

[NeoPhoenixTE]

I wonder why Apple doesn't take this approach and just license stuff that they claim is infringing? Instead of filing lawsuits and pissing off clients, just request companies purchase licensing for these patents, make some bucks right now, and not look like total bullies. It's such a simpler approach (I think, I'm not a lawyer either), so why not take that high road? I honestly don't want to say "because they're evil" because there's gotta be at least one level head over at Apple. :blink: