The patents warfare between Apple and Samsung is nothing new. The duo has been embroiled in multiple patent lawsuits all across the world for quite some years now. However, in a very surprising move, Nokia has chipped in with its support for Apple in one of such cases against Samsung.
The move is unusual because Nokia and Apple aren’t exactly on good terms. First, the two companies are direct smartphone rivals and second, both have been embroiled in patent battle against each other back in 2009. So they make unlikely partners, and yet here we are.
The case in question is about Apple’s demand to have 26 Samsung products banned in the U.S. Judge Lucy Koh turned down the request, stating that Apple must prove that the patented features it was basing its case on were ‘important drivers’ of demand for the Samsung devices in question.
In simpler words, Apple was told by the court to prove that by using these patented features, some of the Samsung products were able to gain traction. Naturally, Apple is unable to do so since the margins of infringement are nearly negligible and altogether, unnoticeable by the common consumers.
Apple has now appealed the ruling and Nokia has joined in to support Apple’s stance. This is apparently being done because Nokia has a healthy patent portfolio of its own and may be planning ahead of time to protect it. Alternatively, it could be a nod from Microsoft which may have persuaded Nokia to stand with Apple.
In the amicus curiae brief that Nokia has filed in the said case, the company has argued that by setting the precedent of procuring proof of an infringed patent being an ‘important driver’ of a given product, the court can disrupt the patent industry in the U.S.
Nokia’s claim seems about right, though unlike the company, we would be more than glad to see the utterly absurd patent industry being forced to reshape along more rational and sane basis.
Source: Nokia’s filing
Courtesy: The Verge
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