Nokia Back in Court Facing Euros 12 Billion Suit

The market leading Finnish mobile phone maker, Nokia, has found itself in hot water once more. This time the Helsinki-based global giant is the recipient of a euros 12 billion lawsuit, courtesy of German intellectual property rights holder IP-Com. According to the German version of the London-based Financial Times newspaper, the head of IP-Com, Christoph Schoeller, has lost patience with the handset manufacturer and has launched a patent breach claim at the state court in Mannheim.

The FT Deutschland claims that IP-Com had been negotiating for some time with Nokia over an agreement which would allow the Finns to use eight mobile patent families currently owned by IP-Com. However, the German outfit's asking price of euros 12 billion was deemed too steep by Nokia, which was refusing to play ball. However, should the court claim prove successful, Nokia could be barred from selling a clutch of its handsets in a large number of markets.

For its part, the manufacturer, which is no stranger to court-room clashes, has dismissed the claims of IP-Com saying the patents are not valid and that in any case the financial claims are excessive. Nokia has vowed to defend itself vigorously against any claims. IP-Com bought the mobile phone patents from Robert Bosch at the end of 2006, with support from US-based private equity funds.