Nokia files further patent complaints against Apple

Nokia has filed another round of complaints against Apple over patent infringement of its mobile technology.

The latest complaints filed with the International Trade Commission (ITC) cover seven patents which Nokia claims are infringed by virtually all Apple phones, computers, tablets and media players.

The patents cover multi-tasking operating systems, data synchronisation, positioning, call quality and the use of Bluetooth accessories.

"Our latest ITC filing means we now have 46 Nokia patents in suit against Apple, many filed more than 10 years before Apple made its first iPhone," said Paul Melin, vice president of intellectual property at Nokia.

"Nokia is a leading innovator in technologies needed to build great mobile products, and Apple must stop building its products using Nokia's proprietary innovation."

The legal battle between the two firms started in October 2009 when Nokia made its initial complaint that Apple had infringed on 10 of its patents, which inspired a countersuit.

Nokia has since filed cases in the UK, Germany and the Netherlands and has now added these additional seven patent infringements to its complaints internationally.

The move comes just days after the ITC ruled against Nokia in its US legal case, finding that five of its patents had not been not violated.

"Many observers and analysts will now try to form an opinion on whether this latest action by Nokia is a sign of strength or weakness," said Florian Müller, founder of the No Software Patents organisation.

"Nokia is sending out a strong and unambiguous message that, at the end of this epic battle, Apple is going to have to send royalty cheques to Finland."