Apple Wants U.S. Nokia Phone Sales Banned

Ed Sutherland ()

Apple Wants U.S. Nokia Phone Sales Banned

Photo: bloomsberries/flickr)

Like a modern-day Hatfield and McCoys, Apple and Nokia are at it again, the latest shot fired by the Cupertino, Calif. firm, asking the International Trade Commission to block imports of the cell phone giant. The legal action comes after Nokia asked the same commission to ban imports of iPods, iPhones and Macs.

The action was posted on the ITC Web site without any comment from Apple. Nokia, however, said it will “study the complaint when it is received and continue to defend itself vigorously,” Nokia spokesman Mark Durrant told Bloomberg by text message over the weekend.

The dispute between Apple and Nokia began in October 2009 and has continued with each side swapping charges of patent infringement. Initially, Nokia sued Apple, claiming the electronics company “was trying to get a free ride” on the back of the Finnish cell phone maker’s innovations in GSM and Wi-Fi technology. Apple struck back, charging in a countersuit Nokia violated 13 of its patents. In December, Nokia filed a claim with the ITC, charging “virtually all” Apple products infringe its patents on power management, user interface, along with camera and antenna technology.

The ITC, which can ban imports based on patent infringement, is often seen as quicker route to a decision than U.S. civil courts that can drag on indefinitely.

[Via AppleInsider and MacRumor]

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About the author

Ed Sutherland

Ed Sutherland is a veteran technology journalist who first heard of Apple when they grew on trees, Yahoo was run out of a Stanford dorm and Google was an unknown upstart. Since then, Sutherland has covered the whole technology landscape, concentrating on tracking the trends and figuring out the finances of large (and small) technology companies.

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  • Neon

    God. Apple is so stupid. It would be funny if iPhones and Ipods were banned from import. Then the only way apple fanboys would be able to get their fix would be black market!

  • Nelli

    Hahahahahaha. “If you can’t beat them, call Washington and lobby them to have them sanctioned.”

    I am sure Apple and the Israel lobby have a lot to learn from eachother!

    Even Microsoft didn’t think of this one, but then again Microsoft doesn’t fight like Minnie Mouse.

    Did they seriously file a lawsuit because Nokia dared make a phone the shape of a rectangle? Can the rectangle really be patented? What is next? Is apple going to sue Michellin, Yokohama and Good Year for infringing on its patent on the wheel?

  • Mattzook

    I hope Apple succeeds. Nokia deserves to reap what they sow. Nokia will soon be in the toilet of failed tech companies.

  • Josh

    @Nelli; where did you hear that apple is sueing over a phones shape? They are sueing because of trade mark infringments, mainly based on UI, accelerometers, and multitouch technology. Also, if McDonalds can trademark a yellow letter (they currently hold the trademark for a golden M) as long as the patents office agrees to it I can patent w/e I want to, including the wheel and a shape.

    @Neon; why would you read an apple fansite/news outlet if you just want to make fun of apple users?

  • Clown

    Apple countered Nokia’s lawsuit in almost the exact same way. How the hell is that a bad or stupid move? They deserve it. An eye for an eye.