Apple faces $2bn mobile patent lawsuit in GermanyFebruary 6, 2014 - 15:32 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - In Germany next week, Apple will have to defend itself against a patent lawsuit which could potentially cost the company over $2bn, ZDNet reports. In the lawsuit — which is for approximately €1.57bn in damages, plus interest — German patent-licensing company IPCom claims that Apple’s products infringe on a mobile patent that it owns. Specifically, the patent covers "how access from mobile phones can be controlled in congested wireless channels," according to a statement from a regional court in Mannheim, where the lawsuit is filed. Previously, Apple — along with a handful of other mobile players, including HTC and Nokia — challenged the patent in the European Patent Office. Last month, the office upheld the patent, but in a narrower form. IPCom has contended that the technology is essential to 3G standards, and as such any company that uses the technology should be subject to licensing agreements. IPCom is also suing for infringement based on a Germany-specific telecommunications patent that it owns, but has not yet determined a value for damages, according to ZDNet. The patents in question are part of a portfolio of over 1,000 patents that IPCom purchased in 2007 from Robert Bosch, a German electronics firm that manufactured mobile phones in the late 1990s but has since exited the market. Over the last few years, IPCom has been waging a patent war based on the portfolio in Germany and elsewhere, with varying success. Last July, IPCom reportedly landed a "low-to-medium triple-digit million euro" licensing fee from Deutsche Telekom to settle a number of patent infringement court cases. Related links: Top stories Yerevan will host the 2024 edition of the World Congress On Information Technology (WCIT). Rustam Badasyan said due to the lack of such regulation, the state budget is deprived of VAT revenues. Krisp’s smart noise suppression tech silences ambient sounds and isolates your voice for calls. Gurgen Khachatryan claimed that the "illegalities have been taking place in 2020." Partner news Most popular in the section | European Parliament to discuss repression in Azerbaijan The European Parliament will discuss repression of civil society in Azerbaijan on April 24 PACE wants concessions from Azerbaijan to accept Baku back A PACE co-rapporteur said that Azerbaijani authorities must make certain concessions so that the country can return to PACE. Cyprus parliament honors Armenian genocide victims Acting House President Zacharias Koulias noted that April 24 marks the “black anniversary” of the Armenian genocide. Armenia PM, France envoy discuss regional matters Issues related to the consistent development of Armenia-France cooperation were discussed. |