Nokia and Apple Could Face Fight Over Touch-Screen Patents

A research note from Nomura analyst Richard Windsor has hinted that Nokia may face a legal battle with Apple over its decision to include touch-screen interfaces in its mobile phones next year. At the launch of the iPhone, Apple CEO Steve Jobs proudly claimed that the company had patented the touchs-creen design and is prepared to defend it.

"I think Apple will likely view Nokia as infringing on its user interface patents," said Richard Windsor "But I don't see this being the same scale of the legal battle Nokia has with Qualcomm,"

Nokia has been showing off a Nokia Touch handset which it expects to launch late next year. The handset appears to be using a touch sensitive screen with haptic feedback and a screen display which does resemble the iPhone interface, if only superficially.

Windsor said Apple claims to have filed at least 200 patents relating to the touch-screen interface on the iPhone - although he also Apple and Nokia would seek an out-of-court settlement in 2009 as opposed to the sort of legal battle which has dragged on over its dispute with Qualcomm. Whether Nokia will launch their handset prior to a settlement is unclear.

Posted to the site on 29th November 2007