Nokia Initiates Legal Proceedings Against Apple for Alleged Patent Infringement

In the ever-evolving world of technology, renowned electronics company Nokia is now engaging in a heated legal battle with industry rival, Apple. The Finland based manufacturer is escalating matters to court, alleging that Apple has infringed upon its patents. This notable development was formally communicated via their [company website](http://www.nokia.com/en_int/news/releases/2016/12/21/nokia-sues-apple-in-europe-and-the-us-for-infringement-of-nokia-patents) in both Europe, specifically Germany, and the United States.

Nokia alleges that Apple had declined several offers to license some of its patents, a move they agreed to back in 2011. Evidently, their patience has worn thin with the recurring patent issues and the firm took a stance to protect its intellectual property. “Through our sustained investment in research and development, Nokia has created or contributed to many of the fundamental technologies used in today’s mobile devices, including Apple products,” relayed Nokia. “After several years of negotiations trying to reach agreement to cover Apple’s use of these patents, we are now taking action to defend our rights.”

The lawsuit, centered around the alleged infringement of 32 distinct patents, was filed in Dusseldorf, Mannheim and Munich, Germany, along with the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. These patents encompass a broad scope, ranging from hardware design to software applications, and include video encoding technology as well.

Legal clashes within the tech world are not a rarity. Tech giants have been known to frequently lock horns over patent violations, the most noteworthy of these skirmishes being the perpetual battle between Apple and their South Korean competitor, Samsung. The latter scored a notable victory recently, adding to a growing list of wins and losses for both parties. Apple, for instance, suffered a setback when it was compelled to pay $24.9 million following a lawsuit related to Siri, its popular voice-activated assistant tool. The tech giant was also hit with a $625 million penalty as part of a separate legal wrangle concerning its FaceTime video calling feature.