Nokia Devices Infringe IPCom Phone Patent, UK Judge Rules

Nokia Oyj, the world’s biggest maker of mobile phones by volume, lost a UK court bid to invalidate a European patent that Germany’s IPCom GmbH & Co. claims is vital to the Finnish company’s handset sales.

The patent, which covers technology for connecting a handset to a network, is valid and infringed by two Nokia devices, which Judge Christopher Floyd didn't identify in his ruling at the High Court in London. Mark Durrant, a spokesman for Nokia, said the company’s current devices don't infringe the patent. The company will appeal part of judgment, he said. “We are pleased that the U.K. High Court declared that Nokia’s current products do not infringe the patent,” Durrant said. “This means that we can continue selling those products, now with legal certainty.” IPCom rejected Nokia’s interpretation of the ruling, claiming the two infringing devices are still in use by the Finnish company.