SIX MONTH DELAY, BUT NOKIA MUST PAY

Nokia hit by expensive arbitration

The IPKat has been reading excitedly this little item in The Register (Biting the hand that feeds IT") on the confirmation by a US federal judge yesterday that Nokia must pay $232-$252m in disputed patent royalties to InterDigital, having unsuccessfully contested a decision made in June by the International Court of Arbitration in respect of GSM handsets and network equipment sold between 2002 and 2006 (assuming there will be a 2006 ...).

The IPKat notes that this was a case in which the parties were obliged to arbitrate under the terms of InterDigital's licence of its technology to Nokia. The licensor will generally opt for arbitration as a cheaper and more discreet alternative to litigation, particularly where other licensees might otherwise be eagerly watching for the terms of a court judgment that would have a direct impact on the enforceability, or issues of liability, under their own, similar licences. Here Nokia, having contested the terms of the award, only seems to have delayed the inevitable payment by six months or so. Merpel adds, I wish I could delay paying my phone bills for six months ...

Great delays here and here
The great delayer here