Apple is again challenging Nokia in court, this time on its home turf, Europe. The Cupertino, Calif. company Tuesday filed suit against the Finnish cell phone giant, claiming Nokia violated the same 9 patents which led to an ongoing legal battle in U.S. courts.
The patents cover technology related to GSM and wireless transmissions. While Apple had no comment on why it filed a UK lawsuit, Nokia told Reuters it was investigating the claims. The two companies expect to wait until 2012 before a U.S. court takes up the case. The U.S. International Trade Commission told both companies the body will look into both complaints.
In October of 2009, Nokia launched the back-and-forth legal struggle, suing Apple , claiming the iPhone maker violated patents governing GSM and wireless transmission technology. Apple fired back, accusing Nokia violated several iPhone patents. Some onlookers suggest Nokia’s lawsuit was prompted by the inroads Apple’s iPhone has made in the previously secure European mobile landscape.
That increased challenge recently resulted in Nokia’s long-time CEO being replaced with the former head of Microsoft’s Business unit and the exit of the cell phone maker’s chairman in 2012.