Nokia Derides Qualcomm Patent Suit

Nokia said late Wednesday that it learned it was the target of a patent infringement in the U.K. by Qualcomm when it read Qualcomm's press release and hadn't yet seen an actual copy of the complaint.

"Nokia has ... learned from a Qualcomm press release that Qualcomm has filed a complaint for alleged patent infringement," the Finnish cellular phone and infrastructure vendor said in a statement. "Nokia is not surprised that Qualcomm has once again chosen to litigate."

While defendants in patent litigation typically vigorously deny the charges against it, Nokia said that it can't do so because it hadn't yet seen the complaint as of late Wednesday. However, it expressed doubt that the suit has much merit.

"Nokia has yet to receive a copy of the complaint or analyze the details; therefore, Nokia cannot comment on the substantive aspects of the claims," the company said in a statement. "Based on our current information, Nokia does not believe that Qualcomm is entitled to an injunction."

Qualcomm earlier Wednesday issued a press release saying it was extending a lawsuit it previously filed against Nokia in the U.S. to the U.K., where it was asking for an injunction and monetary damages. Qualcomm claimed that Nokia has infringed on two patents in its phones that have built-in GPRS and EDGE cellular data technology. Those are cellular data technologies used over GSM networks.

Nokia noted in its response that it holds 223 patents related to that technology and concluded that, when it comes to patents, "Qualcomm's position in GSM is clearly inferior to Nokia's." Nokia concluded that it will examine the complaint when it receives it and will defend itself appropriately.