Finnish technology leader Nokia (NOKIA.HE) has filed a lawsuit in Delaware federal court, taking on tech giants Amazon (AMZN.O) and HP Inc (HPQ.N) over alleged patent violations in the realm of video streaming. The company claims that Amazon’s Prime Video and Twitch streaming services, as well as HP’s computers, are in breach of its patents pertaining to video compression, delivery, and other streaming technology.
In the lawsuit, Nokia asserts that Amazon and HP declined to acquire licenses for these patents and, instead, improperly employed Nokia’s technology to enhance high-quality video streaming efficiency. Furthermore, Nokia revealed that it has initiated parallel legal actions against Amazon in Germany, India, the United Kingdom, and the European Unified Patent Court.
While an Amazon spokesperson has chosen not to comment, citing ongoing litigation, representatives from HP have yet to respond to the request for a statement. Nokia hopes that both Amazon and HP will acknowledge their obligations and engage in good-faith negotiations for licensing agreements.
Nokia, which shifted from producing cell phones to focusing on research, development, and network equipment supply, claims that numerous companies have already acquired licenses for their video encoding and decoding patents. These patents enable superior video quality with reduced bandwidth and data storage requirements, and some are considered essential to International Telecommunication Union standards for video coding technology. Nokia emphasised that they have offered reasonable licensing terms to Amazon and HP.
The company is now seeking court orders to halt Amazon and HP’s alleged infringements and is demanding an unspecified amount of monetary damages. Earlier this year, Nokia announced a 5G wireless patent license agreement with Apple, underscoring their substantial patent portfolio built on over 140 billion euros invested in research and development, encompassing around 20,000 patent families.
When enquiring with Patent attorneys from Vakilsearch – ‘We recognise the significance of Nokia’s legal action against Amazon and HP. The protection of intellectual property rights is crucial in the technology industry. This case highlights the need for fair licensing agreements and the potential consequences of infringing on patents.’
Nokia’s battle against Amazon and HP underscores the importance of safeguarding intellectual property in the tech world. As the lawsuit unfolds, it serves as a reminder that companies must respect patents and engage in fair negotiations. If you’re facing legal challenges or need assistance with patent-related matters, Vakilsearch is here to support you with hassle free patent registration.
