Nokia Pays Up As Deadline Nears

Written by Adam Gosling

Thursday, 05 April 2007

Just days before its licence to use certain Qualcomm-owned technologies Nokia has relented, at least partially, to the the company's demands agreeing to pay Qualcomm US$20 million for patent licenses to cover it for the second quarter 2007. Nokia and Qualcomm have had patent license agreements since 1992 and Nokia's obligations to pay license fees under the old agreements partially expire on April 9, 2007. Nokia says the new payment does not extend, and is not related to, the old agreement. Rather, it is based on the licenses that Qualcomm has agreed and provided through the European Telecommunication Standardization Institute (ETSI). "As we continue to negotiate the new cross-license agreement, Nokia views this payment as fair and reasonable compensation for the use of relevant Qualcomm essential patents in Nokia UMTS handsets during the second quarter of 2007. Nokia believes that Qualcomm's patent portfolio is concentrated in the United States, and that it has few or no alleged UMTS patents in many of the countries in which Nokia has substantial UMTS handset sales. When Qualcomm's early patents become paid-up and royalty-free on April 9, 2007 Qualcomm's share of all patents relevant to Nokia UMTS handsets will significantly decrease", said Rick Simonson, chief financial officer, Nokia. Nokia intends to make similar payments in the future and will announce such payments when they are made. Nokia has until 2007 paid less than 3 per cent cumulative license fees under all of its patent license agreements involving WCDMA products. Nokia retains the right to ask Qualcomm, and its customers, to respect Nokia's patents rights. The retained rights have significant value, and Nokia believes it is well positioned to offset any claims Qualcomm may make against Nokia products to claim more money in license fees. "It is important to note that as of April 9, 2007, Qualcomm's entire chipset business becomes exposed to Nokia's extensive GSM, WCDMA and CDMA patent portfolios and Nokia will use all rights from those portfolios when defending itself against any new Qualcomm litigation", Simonson concluded. Related news items Optus To Offer Mobile Credit Card System -10/10/2007 Hybrid Drive Boosts Laptop's Skillset -10/10/2007 Consumers Want FMC: Companies Don't See The Benefit -02/10/2007 Consumer Advice For Premium Mobile Services -03/09/2007 Sydney Airport Network Improved For APEC -03/09/2007 Newer news items Kiwi Risks Huge Legal Bill To Recover Laptop -19/04/2007 Voda NZ In Trouble Over Number Portability -16/04/2007 Qualcomm Scoffs At Nokia's Millions -13/04/2007 Nokia Payment An Admission: Qualcomm -09/04/2007 Tasteless Posters Warned On Rape Video -05/04/2007 Older news items Qualcomm Lawyers Lob Another Over The Trench -05/04/2007 Consumers Still Struggling With Mobile Contracts -02/04/2007 Tag This Now: