Apple and Nokia told to wait on civil action

A Delaware federal judge late yesterday temporarily froze countering Apple and Nokia lawsuits. The move puts either case on hold until the respective ITC investigations are completed and effectively leaves the ITC verdict to help decide each of the civil suits. An ITC decision would also achieve the goals of the private cases as it could lead to a product ban within the US if successful.

The two companies filed suits against each other late last year claiming that the other violated technology patents relating to phones. Nokia is primarily concerned about Apple's use of 3G, while Apple has accused Nokia of copying its phone designs. ITC complaints, filed after the civil lawsuits, are widely believed to be pressure tactics as they would potentially ban most or all of a rival's products and not just those that a court decides are affected by patents.

By Electronista Staff