United Kingdom Court Rules Qualcomm Patents Invalid

ESPOO, Finland, March 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nokia
announced that a United Kingdom High Court judge issued a ruling in
favor of Nokia in the action brought by Qualcomm against Nokia on 24 May,
2006. In the ruling the judge determined that all of Qualcomm's asserted
GSM patent claims are invalid. Therefore Nokia does not need to compensate
Qualcomm for these patents.
"We are pleased with the Court's decision that the patent claims are
invalid and believe it is consistent with and supported by the facts,' said
Rick Simonson, Chief Financial Officer, Nokia. "This is the second court to
conclude that Qualcomm does not have relevant and valid GSM patents."
In a separate case filed by Qualcomm against Nokia, the US
International Trade Commission (ITC) last week decided against Qualcomm's
petition for review of Judge Luckern's Initial Determination issued on 12
December, 2007. Judge Luckern concluded that Nokia does not infringe the
three alleged Qualcomm patents in the case and that one of the patents is
invalid. This ITC investigation has now been terminated.
"The UK High Court and US ITC findings are further evidence of Qualcomm
overstating its position as an industry innovator and demanding
compensation for patents that are not relevant or valid," Simonson added.
Similar patents, asserted against Nokia GSM products, are at issue in
separate cases filed by Qualcomm against Nokia in China, Europe and the
United States. The parties have agreed to temporarily stay these patent
infringement lawsuits pending court proceedings in the Delaware Chancery
Court. Patent invalidation actions, filed by Nokia against Qualcomm patents
in suit, continue in China and Germany.
Qualcomm has yet to prevail in any patent litigation action against
Nokia despite having filed 11 lawsuits around the world over more than two
years.