In a significant ruling, a German court has found that Amazon has been using Nokia’s patented video technologies without proper licensing, marking a crucial development in a broader legal battle between the two companies. Nokia, the Finnish telecoms giant and key patent holder in the technology sector, said on Friday that the Munich Regional Court determined that Amazon’s use of its video-related technologies in streaming devices was illegal due to the absence of a valid license.

Nokia’s Chief Licensing Officer, Arvin Patel, underscored the gravity of the ruling, stating that the court’s decision affirms Amazon’s violation of intellectual property laws by using Nokia’s patented technologies in its Fire TV streaming devices. Patel expressed that Nokia expects Amazon to comply with the legal standards by obtaining the necessary licenses, emphasizing that the court ruling solidifies Nokia’s rightful claims over its patented video technologies.

Amazon, however, disagreed with the verdict and expressed optimism about resolving the issue. In a statement, the company assured customers that the ruling would not disrupt existing services. “This ruling will not affect any existing customers, and a wide selection of Fire TV devices will continue to be available on Amazon,” Amazon said. The company expressed disappointment in Nokia’s actions, implying that Nokia’s licensing demands were excessive compared to what Amazon has negotiated with other patent holders in the past.

Amazon’s response points to a larger disagreement regarding the fair pricing of technology licenses. The company noted that it had worked with several other companies to secure licenses for video patents and accused Nokia of demanding significantly more than the industry standard. Amazon stated that it had extended a fair offer to Nokia, which the Finnish company rejected, leading to the protracted legal conflict.

This case is just one of many in a wider litigation campaign that Nokia has initiated against Amazon. In 2023, Nokia sued Amazon across multiple jurisdictions, including Germany, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The legal dispute centers on Nokia’s claims that Amazon is using its patented multimedia inventions in a range of devices, including streaming technologies. Nokia also sought action from the European Unified Patent Court, highlighting the global nature of this patent dispute.

Interestingly, Amazon is not sitting idly by. In July 2023, the tech giant escalated the battle by filing a lawsuit against Nokia in a U.S. federal court in Delaware. In this case, Amazon accused Nokia of infringing on a dozen of its own patents related to cloud computing technologies. This countersuit signals that the patent war between the two companies is likely to continue on multiple fronts, with both sides seeking to protect their technological innovations and intellectual property.

Nokia, a key player in the telecommunications and technology patent sector, hopes the court’s ruling will pressure Amazon into accepting a licensing deal on what it describes as “fair terms.” The company reaffirmed its commitment to securing intellectual property rights while indicating that it hopes for a swift resolution.

With Amazon’s vast global operations and Nokia’s influential position in telecoms, the outcome of this patent dispute could have broader implications for how companies negotiate technology licenses in the streaming and multimedia sectors. As the legal battles continue across various countries, the case could set important precedents for both intellectual property law and technology agreements in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

(Adapted from Nasdaq.com)