InterDigital To Oppose Nokia's Effort To Appeal

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. -(Dow Jones)- InterDigital Communications Corp. plans to oppose Nokia Corp.'s efforts to appeal a recently issued federal court ruling, which confirmed an arbitration award against Nokia.

InterDigital's plan to oppose Nokia follows a judge's Dec. 28 decision to confirm an arbitration award of about $250 million for InterDigital in a dispute with cellular phone maker Nokia over royalties.

Less than a day after the Manhattan court ruling, Nokia said it would evaluate its legal options before it proceeds with talks over royalty payments with InterDigital on some patents owned by InterDigital.

In a press release Friday, InterDigital said Nokia has now filed a notice of appeal, indicating the company is appealing the federal court's judgment to an appeals court.

"We will continue to pursue all legal remedies to secure payment and we remain confident that Nokia will pay the amounts due, either of its own accord or by court order," said William J. Merritt, president and chief executive of InterDigital.

The dispute revolves around royalties agreed to as part of licensing agreements entered into by InterDigital Communications and Nokia in January 1999.

A representative for Nokia wasn't immediately available for comment.

Company Web site: http://www.interdigital.com

-Geoffrey Rogow; Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5400; AskNewswires@dowjones.com

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Posted to the site on 27th January 2006