US agency pays attention to Nokia/Apple spat

The US International Trade Commission today said it would start investigating Nokia's complaint against Apple. The gesture marks a formal start to challenging Apple's patents and means the ITC won't dismiss the claims out of hand. No timetable has yet been set for the investigation, though most finish within a year and a half.

Officials have yet to start an investigation into the rival claim from Apple, although it was filed roughly two weeks later and is likely to receive similar treatment.

Both companies filed their ITC complaints as an attempt to pressure each other into reaching a settlement for lawsuits filed at the end of last year. The two believe their opponent is obtaining a "free ride" from the other's patented techniques. Nokia began the dispute in October by claiming that Apple had refused to license 3G patents for the iPhone, but it and Apple have now tried to claim that most if not all of their opponent's product lines should be forced off the market over infringements.

By Electronista Staff