Nokia wins wireless telecom patent suit vs. Apple

Nokia, the world’s largest maker of mobile phones, has won a drawn-out court battle over iPhone maker Apple over patents for wireless telecommunication technologies.

The Wall Street Journal and other U.S. media reported Tuesday that the two companies settled their dispute over 46 cases of patent infringement. Under a bilateral agreement, Apple will pay an undisclosed sum in patent fees and royalties over a specific term.

Details of the agreement were not disclosed.

Patent litigation experts expect Nokia to file similar lawsuits against makers of smartphones based on the Android operating system.

On the possibility of being sued by Nokia, Samsung Electronics refused to comment, saying no litigation suit has been filed.

A domestic patent expert, however, predicted that Nokia will seek to boost its sagging sales through patent litigation against Samsung. Korean mobile phone makers such as Samsung and LG will not be helpless against a suit, the expert added, as they possess many well-established telecommunications patents.

higgledy@donga.com kimhs@donga.com