Nokia and HTC have won a key European ruling, in a patent dispute with intellectual property licensor Ipcom.
The European Patent Office in Munich has revoked IPCom’s patent that had threatened to stop sales of the two smartphone makers in Europe, when they refused to meet any of its conditions.
Ipcom had demanded a ban on the two smartphone makers’ handsets and after the ruling Nokia could continue selling products in Germany.
Nokia Intellectual Property vice president Paul Melin said the European Patent Office has confirmed that this IPCom patent is invalid.
"So far, of 62 IPCom patents that have come to judgment, none has been found valid as granted. IPCom needs to recognize its position and end its unrealistic demands for what remains of this significantly diminished portfolio."
The patent at dispute was related to a phone’s first connection made to a network, according to Reuters.
Ipcom intends to file an appeal against the ruling and says the ruling was not favourable since one of the features may be too broad.
Ipcom first challenged HTC in a German court in 2009 and won the case, after which Ipcom had written to retailers and wholesalers calling them to ban sales of 3G devices from HTC, or face lawsuits.
