Nokia faces patent-infringement complaint

New Zealand-based company Michael S Sutton Ltd has filed a complaint against Nokia in the US for infringing a data-packaging technology patent and is seeking damages, court documents showed.

The complaint — which says the world's top mobile phone maker is using technology patented by Sutton in its messaging applications — was filed in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas on 30 April.

Nokia said it would actively defend its rights in the case.

"This case was previously filed against Nokia and then voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiff. We will analyse the details of the new case which was filed on 30 April, 2007, and actively defend the rights of Nokia," a spokeswoman said.

Legal rows in the wireless industry have increased as the complexity of technologies in phones grows.

Nokia is currently in a major dispute with chipmaker Qualcomm on a cross-licensing agreement between the two firms.

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