Nokia and Apple have settled long-running intellectual property disputes and agreed to a multi-year patent license, moving from courtroom foes to business partners.
The companies didn’t disclose financial terms, but said Tuesday that Apple has agreed to make an upfront cash payment to Nokia, with additional payments over the term of the “multiyear” deal.
The companies also said that Apple will resume selling Nokia’s digital health products – which include Withings-branded connected objects – in Apple retail and online stores. Nokia has said it is devoting considerable investment in that product line.
Nokia had filed lawsuits with regional courts in Dusseldorf, Mannheim and Munich in Germany and the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, claiming 32 patent infringements on technology including displays, display, user interface, software, antenna, chipsets, and video coding.
Apple will pay Nokia an undisclosed sum and further revenues while the deal stands. Analysts at UBS estimate that Nokia will receive between €450m and €550m (£390m-£475m) from Apple.
“This is a meaningful agreement between Nokia and Apple,” said Maria Varsellona, Nokia’s chief legal officer. “It moves our relationship with Apple from being adversaries in court to business partners working for the benefit of our customers.”
Apple chief operating officer Jeff Williams said: “We are pleased with this resolution of our dispute and we look forward to expanding our business relationship with Nokia.”
