Apple countersues Nokia over patent claims

Apple has issued a counter-claim to a patent lawsuit brought against it by mobile phone manufacturer Nokia.

The manufacturers are engaged in a legal battle over the rights to technologies that are fundamental to making mobile devices compatible with one or more standards; including GSM and 3G.

Nokia first sued sued Apple in October 2008, over 10 mobile phone-related patents it said the company had infringed. The manufacturer accused Apple of "taking a free ride" on Nokia's innovation.

In a statement, Nokia said: "The 10 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 and are infringed by all Apple iPhone models shipped since the iPhone was introduced in 2007."

"The basic principle in the mobile industry is that those companies who contribute in technology development to establish standards create intellectual property, which others then need to compensate for.

"By refusing to agree appropriate terms for Nokia's intellectual property, Apple is attempting to get a free ride on the back of Nokia's innovation."

Now Apple has hit back with a claim that Nokia is infringing 13 Apple patents. The company has also claimed that the patented technology Nokia names is not essential to the standards underpinning those networks.

But it added that even if they were, Nokia is itself in breach of obligations to allow others reasonable access to it. Both suits were filed in federal courts in Delaware.