Nokia wins another round on GSM patents

A United Kingdom court has ruled in Nokia Corp.’s favor and rejected Qualcomm Inc.’s claims that the handset maker infringed on its GSM patents, in a case filed two years ago. The court said that Qualcomm’s patent claims are invalid.
Both companies’ stock was down this morning, with Qualcomm shedding as much as 2.4% and Nokia falling about 1.4% by midday on the New York Stock Exchange.
The U.K. case is the second, recent case involving Qualcomm’s GSM claims to favor Nokia. Last week, the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled that Nokia does not infringe on three GSM patents claimed by Qualcomm and that one of three patents in question is invalid.
“This is the second court to conclude that Qualcomm does not have relevant and valid GSM patents,” said Rick Simonson, Nokia’s CFO, in a statement.
Qualcomm is considering whether to amend its complaint and appeal the decision, the company said in a statement. The company added that the U.K. court decision was limited to Nokia’s GSM/GPRS/EDGE products.
The two parties have agreed to consolidate their arbitration issues, aimed at reaching a new patent cross-licensing agreement, in Delaware Chancery Court, where proceedings are scheduled to begin in July.
Nokia and Qualcomm have agreed to stay three other GSM patent cases asserted by Qualcomm against Nokia in the United States, Germany and China as the Delaware case is heard. Patent complaints by Nokia against Qualcomm in China and Germany continue to go forward.