Skip to main content

Apple challenges Nokia suit over touchscreen scrolling patent

Apple vs NokiaNokia has long claimed iOS technology violates its patents – and it’s not backing down. Now, Apple is counter-suing Nokia over the company’s alleged patent on touchscreen scrolling.

The Finnish cellphone manufacturer has been fighting the iPhone and iPad for infringing on countless patents it has registered. Apple has accordingly fought back, and 37 lawsuits later, here we are. Nokia’s fight with Apple escalated over the fall and winter of 2010, and in this particular instance, Apple is trying to invalidate Nokia’s claims that iOS devices violate its touchscreen scrolling patent. The complaint was filed in the UK, and Apple believes Nokia’s hold over touching and scrolling technology in invalid.

Apple continues to assert that Nokia is suing because it doesn’t have its own legs to stand on. “Companies must compete with us by investing their own technologies, not just by stealing ours,” Apple’s general counsel Bruce Sewell said about the situation earlier this year. Nokia’s initial court proceedings centered on Apple’s use of 3G technology, since stretching to challenge other purportedly unlicensed features iOS devices have integrated.

Apple has yet to comment, but Nokia responded to the countersuit. “We are examining the filing and will take whatever actions are needed to protect our rights,” spokesman Mark Durrant told Bloomberg. And Nokia clearly has no problems going to court: earlier today, the company won a case invalidating a patent infringement filed by German company IPCom. According to Bloomberg, Nokia has countered 45 IPCom patents, and so far has been successful.

Editors' Recommendations

Molly McHugh
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Before coming to Digital Trends, Molly worked as a freelance writer, occasional photographer, and general technical lackey…
When will Apple release iOS 18? Here’s what we know
An iPhone 14 laying face-down on a wood table.

Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) will start on Monday, June 10. During the conference keynote, the company is expected to unveil new software updates for its major products, including iOS 18 for iPhones.

iOS 18 is expected to be a major iPhone update, likely ushering in a new design and AI features. If you are wondering when you can get your hands on the latest software version, here's everything you need to know about iOS 18's release date.
When will the iOS 18 beta be released?

Read more
Everything you need to know about the massive Apple App Store outage
App Store on-screen illustration

Happy Wednesday evening, everyone! You're unwinding for the day, getting ready for a relaxing night, and ... you realize that the App Store and a bunch of other Apple services aren't working. Don't worry, you aren't alone.

What Apple services are down? When did the problems start? Is the outage still ongoing? Here's everything you need to know.
When did the App Store outage start?
According to DownDetector, reports of outages with the App Store flooded in a little after 6 p.m. ET. Reports appear to have spiked at over 6,000, indicating pretty widespread problems.

Read more
The 7 biggest features we expect to see in iOS 18
The home screen on the Apple iPhone 15 Plus.

Apple revealed that its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) will take place on June 10. This is when we expect to see the next iteration of software across all of Apple’s products, including iOS 18.

From the sounds of it, we’re in for a big update with iOS 18, rumored to be one of the “biggest updates” yet. Here’s what we expect from Apple's next major iPhone update with iOS 18.
A more customizable home screen

Read more