Nokia is throwing its hat in the ring with Apple in supporting injunctions in patent infringement lawsuits. The cell phone maker filed an amicus brief on Tuesday supporting Apple in the iPhone and iPad maker's ongoing patent infringement fight with Samsung in the United States.
Nokia backs Apple to see patent infringement injunctions upheld
The brief supports Apple's argument that Judge Lucy Koh's decision to deny an injunction blocking the sale of some Android-based smartphones and tablets from Samsung should be reversed. The ruling came as part of the company's patent infringement litigation in U.S. Federal Court.
Part of the concern over Judge Koh's ruling is that patent holders will be compelled to license technology to competitors, and ultimately have a negative impact on innovation, according to Foss Patents.
Judge Koh's reasoning behind denying the injunction was that most of the listed devices were no longer on the market, and that none of the patents in question "covers a particular feature that actually drives consumer demand."
Apple won its patent infringement case against Samsung in 2012 and was awarded over US$1 billion in damages by a Jury. Judge Koh recently reduced the damages award by $450.5 million saying that legal theory behind the figure wasn't permissible.
The Jury in the case awarded a single damage for each infringing Samsung device despite the fact that each infringed on multiple patents. That, apparently, was enough to call the damages award into question and has prompted a new trial over the $450.5 million Judge Koh cut.
"Because the Court has identified an impermissible legal theory on which the jury based its award, and cannot reasonably calculate the amount of excess while effectuating the intent of the jury, the Court hereby orders a new trial on damages," Judge Koh said in her ruling.
Nokia's amicus brief is currently sealed, so the wording the company used to support Apple's argument isn't yet available.