Things may get pretty interesting for Nokia investors and bit tough for Google here, it seems. Nokia has brought a patent lawsuit against HTC specifically targeting Google Maps and navigation on its devices sold in Germany. Google itself has revealed this information while filing some exhibits with ITC. One of these exhibits is a U.S. discovery application (for use in foreign proceedings) that Nokia filed on October 15, 2013 with the United States District Court. This exhibits clearly mentions that a new lawsuit brought by Nokia against HTC in Germany is related to navigation technology and specifically Google maps and navigation.
Click on the image below to read that part of lawsuit,
One of dozens of exhibits to a filing Google made this week with the ITC is a U.S. discovery application (for use in foreign proceedings) that Nokia filed on October 15, 2013 with the United States District Court for the Northern District of California (Google’s home court).
It states specifically that Nokia filed a new patent lawsuit against HTC in Dusseldorf, Germany, between an earlier U.S. discovery application (filed on August 8, 2013) and that new application, and that this new lawsuits “relates to navigation technology […] including the use of Google Maps and Google Navigation in HTC devices sold in Germany” .
The patent which Nokia is asserting against HTC and Google is related to “electronic navigation system and method”. The patent has a June 1994 priority date, proving that Nokia was working on mapping and navigation software years before Google was even founded.
This may be really a huge blow for Google, if court finds violation of this patent by HTC devices. Nokia can simply sue Google and any of the Android vendors next. This may force Google into sorting out patent licensing issues with Nokia at some point.
Thanks Tom for the tip. Cheers!!
Source: FOSS patents
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