Apple a licentiat tehnologii brevetate de catre Nokia

De ani de zile Nokia si Apple se lupta in instante acuzandu-se reciproc de incalcarea unor brevete de inventie insa iata ca in final Apple a cedat si va licentia cateva tehnologii de la Nokia. Astazi Nokia a publicat un comunicat de presa in care anunta ca Apple va plati o anumita suma fixa de bani o singura data plus alte sume anuale pentru folosirea tehnologiilor brevetate de catre Nokia. Nu s-au prezentat nici un fel de cifre pentru aceste sume insa mai mult ca sigur este vorba despre costuri ridicate pentru Apple si venituri de care Nokia are mare nevoie in momentul de fata.

Cei de la Nokia au sustinut in 2010 ca Apple a incalcat brevete de inventie privind tehnologii pentru: transmiterea de date si imbunatatire calitatii apelurilor telefonice, folosirea sistemelor de pozitionare GPS in aplicatii si folosirea unor metode de de imbunatatire a calitatii semnalului si a micsorarii spatiului ocupat de componentele interne. In 2011 Nokia a introdus in instanta o noua actiune prin care acuza Apple de incalcarea unor brevete de inventie pentru: anumite elemente ale sistemului de multitasking din iOS, metode de imbunatatire a pozitionarii prin GPS, metode de imbunatatire a calitatii apelurilor si a compatibilitatii cu accesorii Bluetooth.

Este posibil ca o parte dintre acuzatiile aduse de Nokia sa fie adevarate din moment ce Apple a fost de acord sa plateasca pentru folosirea tehnologiilor insa exista totodata posibilitatea ca Apple sa fi licentiat si alte cateva tehnologii noi.

Espoo, Finland – Nokia announced that it has signed a patent license agreement with Apple. The agreement will result in settlement of all patent litigation between the companies, including the withdrawal by Nokia and Apple of their respective complaints to the US International Trade Commission.

The financial structure of the agreement consists of a one-time payment payable by Apple and on-going royalties to be paid by Apple to Nokia for the term of the agreement.  The specific terms of the contract are confidential.

“We are very pleased to have Apple join the growing number of Nokia licensees,” said Stephen Elop, president and chief executive officer of Nokia. “This settlement demonstrates Nokia’s industry leading patent portfolio and enables us to focus on further licensing opportunities in the mobile communications market.”

During the last two decades, Nokia has invested approximately EUR 43 billion in research and development and built one of the wireless industry’s strongest and broadest IPR portfolios, with over 10,000 patent families.  Nokia is a world leader in the development of handheld device and mobile communications technologies, which is also demonstrated by Nokia’s strong patent position.

This agreement is expected to have a positive financial impact on Nokia’s recently revised outlook for the second quarter 2011 of around break-even non-IFRS operating margin for Devices & Services.