Mobile Updates: My Nokia Blog

02 January 2014

My Nokia Blog

Nokia Starts Off 2014 by Telling HTC to Stop Free-Riding off Other Manufacturers Work; Multiple HTC Phones Banned in Germany

Posted: 01 Jan 2014 10:37 AM PST

8X and 920 2

The saga of HTC vs. Nokia in terms of patent infringement continues, this time racking another one for Nokia. Previously several HTC devices were found to infringe on Nokia’s patents for their hi-fidelity audio recording; this time a judge in Germany has ruled that HTC infringed on Nokia’s Bluetooth/NFC patents for data transfer. The judge ruled that any devices using this unlicensed technology be banned from sales, as well as monetary compensation be paid to Nokia for past devices sold. In response to the judge’s ruling Nokia issued a statement, where they wished that HTC’s new year resolution would be to start playing fairly.

“Nokia is pleased that the Regional Court in Munich, Germany has today ruled that any HTC product using Bluetooth or NFC connections infringes Nokia’s patent EP 1 148 681, which covers the transfer of network resource information between mobile devices.

This judgment enables Nokia to enforce an injunction against the import and sale of all infringing HTC products in Germany, as well as to obtain damages for past infringement. This follows another ruling from the same court ten days earlier, which found that HTC products infringed Nokia’s USB patent EP 1 246 071 and granting Nokia right to an injunction and damages against products infringing that patent.

Nokia began its actions against HTC in 2012, with the aim of ending HTC’s unauthorised use of Nokia’s proprietary innovations and has asserted more than 50 patents against HTC. During 2013, Nokia believes it has demonstrated beyond doubt the extent to which HTC has been free riding on Nokia technologies, with HTC found to infringe seven Nokia patents in venues including the Regional Courts in Mannheim and Munich, Germany, the UK High Court and the US International Trade Commission. HTC's first New Year's resolution for 2014 should be to stop this free riding and compete fairly in the market.”

As if it wasn’t clear yet, Nokia’s new strategy is to cash in on the insane amount of patents that several OEM’s have been abusing; and so far it’s working.

Source

Thanks for the tip Alvester

Nokia Wishes everyone a magical 2014 with a Levitating Lumia 1020

Posted: 01 Jan 2014 04:44 AM PST

Quick heads up on Nokia’s Happy New Year wishes.

A magical levitating, Nokia Lumia 1020.

https://twitter.com/nokia/status/418361968290848768