This is very interesting. Apple fanboys will just say that nokia is worried about apple's success. I would think the same.... if not why not bring thnis suit up earlier? I hope apple loses
Now because the N900 is coming out. I suspect some part of the N900 hardware or of Maemo 5 may require an Apple license and a cross licensing deal could not be worked out. If it's related to Maemo 6 and multitouch, the only reason to do it now instead of later is to introduce FUD regarding the iPhone while the N900 initially shows up in stores.
I predict the outcome will be: 1) a nominal payment from Apple to Nokia to cover past infringement 2) a license sharing agreement that lets the iPhone move forward as is, and lets Nokia utilize iPhone-isms for things like Multi-touch. And, I'm pretty sure #2 is the hold-up in the negotiations, not #1. I bet Apple has a death-grip on preventing other manufacturers (esp. one as big as Nokia) from having a multi-touch experience that's comparable to the iPhone.
In this same thread earlier it was mentioned that Apple was sued for using multi-touch in their devices. So, it is not their patent.
Not quite. I work in patent litigation and while I have not read the complaint yet (I plan to), the press release said that Nokia is suing Apple for infringement. That means in the complaint Nokia has identified certain patents that they claim Apple is infringing upon. If it was a matter of Nokia's patent applications being refused because of Apple's patents that would be an issue to be taken up in the US Patent and Trademark Office, not a federal district court.
Aktiebolag is swedish for "joint-stock corporation" (literal translation pretty much) which is in Sweden what Ltd is in the UK
The irony of both paragraphs is killing me.