Nokia has always been fairly quick on the IP lawsuit trigger, I think. They sued one of my earlier companies (biofeedback and health monitoring in phones/PDAs, etc.) after we demonstrated the devices at a very small (<50 people, including startup teams) conference. They have ridiculously broad patents in the mobile area. And they have very ambitious plans.
Of course, they still have no device on the market that does what our devices could do, and probably never will. I hope Bilski changes some of the patent BS for the better.
It's going to be interesting to watch how Nokia squares up their Pro-Open Source message (see: maemo) with their IP enforcement strategies.
Nokia have of course every right to enforce their IP, but PR wise they look very lame for this move. The timing (just as Apple announces a record quarter) and the fact they clearly have failed to make a competitive product to the iPhone, just makes them look desperate.
For more than a decade I've been a loyal user of your products, pretty
much every year or so I would upgrade my phone to your latest model.
Today that comes to an end.
My reason is that I think that companies should compete on quality and
price, not to use software patents as a means of stifling competition.
Software Patents were a mistake when they were granted to begin with,
to see the proud company that Nokia once was stoop to the use of the
dirtiest weapons in business is really sad.
I realize that my voice hardly counts in issues like this, but I figured
that by letting you know, you are aware that there is another price attached
to this lawsuit.
Well I'm all for seeing somebody beat Apple at their own patent game, but like somebody said in another comment, this is probably just going to result in a patent sharing agreement. As such I dont really see the need to get so worked up. Besides it would indeed be unfair to the other 40 or so companies which have signed with Nokia if Apple gets away with this.
Have you seen some facts that this would be about software patents? I would guess it is a mixture of hardware and software, from the press release:
"The ten patents in suit relate to technologies fundamental to making devices which are compatible with one or more of the GSM, UMTS (3G WCDMA) and wireless LAN standards. The patents cover wireless data, speech coding, security and encryption..."
"We like competition because it makes us better, but we will not stand for companies infringing on our IP and we will use whatever weapons we have at our disposal."
Unfortunately, a lot of these patents are the overly broad variety. I wonder if this is just Nokia's attempt to get a cross licensing deal with Apple. The amount that was quoted ($200mil) is extremely low.
Screw them and the horse they rode in on, this is just a bid of weakness. If you can't compete with your product line in fair ways then you should revamp your product line, not turn to your lawyers.
What a bunch of losers.
I've been using Nokia phones for the last decade, with a two week 'diversion' to Samsung (talk about bad firmware). Nokia has an 'ok' product but it could be a whole lot better, I'm as loyal as can be but software patents are a bad thing and using them like this is just plain dumb.
Bye Bye Nokia, you once were an outstanding company.
If Nokia has innovated in the mobile communication area, why would it be wrong for them to use their intellectual property rights.
A separate question is if intellectual property is a good idea at all. But that is beyond the question at hand.
Patent trolls are just a bad idea, but in this case Nokia may have created a foundation that the Apple is building upon. Companies pay for licensing technology all the time. USB, Firewire, Bluetooth, ...
Eh. Apple has continually played the patent game to the detriment of others. I don't feel any particular animosity towards Nokia for playing the same game with Apple. With any luck, this will be another example of why our patent system is flawed and needs to be revamped.
Because they just realized they can't make something that will compete with the Iphone without violating apples patents ?
So they figure rather than to wait they should sue first, hope to get apples attention in a way they can't ignore and 'settle' for cross licensing. And so the madness continues.
Nokia should give up their software patents and simply make a stand instead of going out of their way to look like losers here.
They were one of the most r&d driven companies in the world after Xerox, the stuff they did was pretty groundbreaking, unfortunately in the field of software that allows you to take out patents. That should have never happened. Nokia was one of the parties lobbying the EU very hard to allow software patents:
Yes, the idea is, they spent 40 billion creating IP, now they get the government to enforce a monopoly on that IP for them. That's the point of patents.
Nah, they're probably out to implement something that Apple has patented and that Apple isn't willing to licence. I'm betting they'll settle on a patent sharing agreement.
Maybe it's not a lame greed lawsuit? Nokia has IP in every GSM phone... Perhaps Apple isn't licensing like they are supposed to? We'll have to see how it pans out.
While I strongly disagree with this at best destructive, at worst childish use of our legal system, lets not forget that apple has been only too quick to use similar tactics whenever it suits them.
Factually inaccurate. Apple did not sue Woolworths. Apple registered an objection against the granting of Woolworth's trademark during the period that the granting agency (IP Australia) specifically asks for objections to be filed.
From Wikipedia's entry on Australian trademark law:
If an application is accepted it will be published for opposition purposes for three months, during which time third parties may oppose registration on certain grounds. If there are no oppositions, or any oppositions are overcome, a certificate of registration will issue. The term of registration in Australia is 10 years
[+] [-] Shooter|16 years ago|reply
Of course, they still have no device on the market that does what our devices could do, and probably never will. I hope Bilski changes some of the patent BS for the better.
[+] [-] kenshi|16 years ago|reply
Nokia have of course every right to enforce their IP, but PR wise they look very lame for this move. The timing (just as Apple announces a record quarter) and the fact they clearly have failed to make a competitive product to the iPhone, just makes them look desperate.
[+] [-] jacquesm|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Ras_|16 years ago|reply
Nokia is too big a player in a small pond.
[+] [-] jacquesm|16 years ago|reply
Dear Nokia,
For more than a decade I've been a loyal user of your products, pretty much every year or so I would upgrade my phone to your latest model.
Today that comes to an end.
My reason is that I think that companies should compete on quality and price, not to use software patents as a means of stifling competition.
Software Patents were a mistake when they were granted to begin with, to see the proud company that Nokia once was stoop to the use of the dirtiest weapons in business is really sad.
I realize that my voice hardly counts in issues like this, but I figured that by letting you know, you are aware that there is another price attached to this lawsuit.
best regards,
[+] [-] Tuna-Fish|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] chaosprophet|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] omouse|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] asmosoinio|16 years ago|reply
Have you seen some facts that this would be about software patents? I would guess it is a mixture of hardware and software, from the press release:
"The ten patents in suit relate to technologies fundamental to making devices which are compatible with one or more of the GSM, UMTS (3G WCDMA) and wireless LAN standards. The patents cover wireless data, speech coding, security and encryption..."
[+] [-] unknown|16 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] pwmanagerdied|16 years ago|reply
Unless you don't but Apple either, which makes sense.
[+] [-] cromulent|16 years ago|reply
Tim Cook, Apple COO, Jan 21 2009.
[+] [-] zokier|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] protomyth|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|16 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] jacquesm|16 years ago|reply
Screw them and the horse they rode in on, this is just a bid of weakness. If you can't compete with your product line in fair ways then you should revamp your product line, not turn to your lawyers.
What a bunch of losers.
I've been using Nokia phones for the last decade, with a two week 'diversion' to Samsung (talk about bad firmware). Nokia has an 'ok' product but it could be a whole lot better, I'm as loyal as can be but software patents are a bad thing and using them like this is just plain dumb.
Bye Bye Nokia, you once were an outstanding company.
[+] [-] CaptSolo|16 years ago|reply
A separate question is if intellectual property is a good idea at all. But that is beyond the question at hand.
Patent trolls are just a bad idea, but in this case Nokia may have created a foundation that the Apple is building upon. Companies pay for licensing technology all the time. USB, Firewire, Bluetooth, ...
[+] [-] zacharypinter|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] crc32|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] axod|16 years ago|reply
What a sad thing for them to resort to.
[+] [-] pistoriusp|16 years ago|reply
"The patents cover wireless data, speech coding, security and encryption and are infringed by all Apple iPhone models."
I would love to know exactly what they are suing for?
[+] [-] stdan27|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mtarnovan|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] chaosprophet|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] srn|16 years ago|reply
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/67615.html?wlc=1256230659
Google isn't immune either
http://phandroid.com/2009/09/25/cyanogen-gets-cd-from-google...
None of these companies are golden. Buy what works for you.
[+] [-] protomyth|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bshep|16 years ago|reply
I dont know if Apple is liable if the infringement is by the modem in the iPhone since Apple doesnt make the modem, they buy it from another company.
[+] [-] stevenbedrick|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jacquesm|16 years ago|reply
So they figure rather than to wait they should sue first, hope to get apples attention in a way they can't ignore and 'settle' for cross licensing. And so the madness continues.
Nokia should give up their software patents and simply make a stand instead of going out of their way to look like losers here.
They were one of the most r&d driven companies in the world after Xerox, the stuff they did was pretty groundbreaking, unfortunately in the field of software that allows you to take out patents. That should have never happened. Nokia was one of the parties lobbying the EU very hard to allow software patents:
http://wiki.openrightsgroup.org/wiki/Software_patents
Now you can see why.
[+] [-] omouse|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rimantas|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] andreyf|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|16 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] johng|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] lispm|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] buro9|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] shiranaihito|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jonknee|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] omouse|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] noonespecial|16 years ago|reply
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/05/apple-sues-woolwort...
What do the say about those who live by the sword?
[+] [-] tumult|16 years ago|reply
Nokia is suing Apple because they've been beaten at handsets and are losing money, and someone decided this was their best shot at getting back.
[+] [-] GHFigs|16 years ago|reply
From Wikipedia's entry on Australian trademark law: If an application is accepted it will be published for opposition purposes for three months, during which time third parties may oppose registration on certain grounds. If there are no oppositions, or any oppositions are overcome, a certificate of registration will issue. The term of registration in Australia is 10 years