Apple Sue Nokia: "Companies Must Compete By Inventing Their Own Technologies, Not Just By Stealing Ours" [Updated]
As press releases go, Apple's latest is about the briefest and most direct we can remember seeing. The company is countersuing Nokia – who recently brought a lawsuit against Apple – and alleges that the Finns have infringed on 13 Apple patents. "Other companies must compete with us by inventing their own technologies" Brian Sewell, Apple's general counsel and SVP is quoted as saying, "not just by stealing ours."
Update: Full legal text after the cut, plus Nokia's "copy with pride" quote about the iPhone comes back to haunt them
Nokia's suit alleged that Apple had infringed ten patents relating to "one or more of the GSM, UMTS (3G WCDMA), and wireless LAN standards" with the iPhone, and was filed back in October. At the time, Nokia's VP of legal was quoted as saying "By refusing to agree appropriate terms for Nokia's intellectual property, Apple is attempting to get a free ride on the back of Nokia's innovation."
Update: Apple's filing is available to read (see below) and what's notable is that they specifically refer to Nokia executive vice president Anssi Vanjoki's 2007 quote about copying the iPhone "with pride." [via IntoMobile]AAPL-NOKCountersuit -Press Release:
Apple Countersues NokiaCUPERTINO, Calif., Dec. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Responding to a lawsuit brought against the company by Nokia, Apple® today filed a countersuit claiming that Nokia is infringing 13 Apple patents.
"Other companies must compete with us by inventing their own technologies, not just by stealing ours," said Bruce Sewell, Apple's General Counsel and senior vice president.