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LG buys Nokia smartphone patent license

Patent license deal includes 2G, 3G and 4G technologies

LG Electronics is the latest of more than 60 companies to reach a patent license agreement with Nokia concerning 2G, 3G and 4G mobile technologies. The Korean company has agreed to take a royalty-bearing patent license for Nokia’s smartphone technologies.

This is the first major smartphone manufacturer to take part in this licensing program since Nokia sold Microsoft its Devices and Services business in 2014. Following the acquisition, Nokia was split into three companies: Nokia Networks, Here and Nokia Technologies.

“We are pleased to welcome LG Electronics to our licensing program,” said Ramzi Haidamus, president of Nokia Technologies. “We’ve worked constructively with LG Electronics and agreed on a mutually beneficial approach, including the use of independent arbitration to resolve any differences. This agreement sets the scene for further collaboration between our companies in future.”

Nokia has a history of patent disputes against other devicemakers, including Apple. Its most visible tiff, which was eventually settled in 2008, was with chipmaker Qualcomm.

Nokia faces some risk in this agreement, including expectations related to future performance of Nokia Networks, Here and Nokia Technologies, as well as changes in management, operational structure and operating models.

The agreement will be subject to commercial arbitration, which is expected to conclude in one or two years. Other terms of the agreement have not been released.

ABOUT AUTHOR

Joey Jackson
Joey Jacksonhttp://www.RCRWireless.com
[email protected] Joey Jackson is an editor and production manager at RCRWireless.com and RCRtv based in Austin, Texas. Before coming to RCR, Joey was a multimedia journalist for multiple TV news affiliates around the country. He is in charge of custom video production as well as the production of the "Digs," "Gigs," "How it works" and "Tower Stories" segments for RCRtv. He also writes daily about the latest developments in telecom and ICT news. An Oregon native, Joey graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in journalism and communications. He enjoys telling the stories of the people and companies that are shaping the landscape of the mobile world. Follow him on Twitter at @duck_jackson.