Apple Sues Ericsson Over 'Non-Essential' Wireless Patents and Ericsson Fires Right Back

[dgstorm]

It looks like Apple is embroiled in another patent fight, but this time, they are suing someone other than Samsung, and they are suing so they don't have to pay exorbitant fees for patents they deem as "non-essential." Apple is suing Ericsson so they don't have to continue paying large fees for an Ericsson wireless patent that Appel feels is no longer "essential."

Last year, Ericsson made 1.31 billion dollars in patent licensing. A large portion of that profit was from Apple who had a previous deal with Ericsson to license wireless networking patents for use in the iPhone and iPad. Apple has been trying to renegotiate this deal to no avail so they are suing Ericsson. Of course, Ericsson fired back with a counter-suit of their own against Apple. Here's a quote with more of the details,

Apple claims that Ericsson's patents are "not essential to industry cellular standards," and is hoping to get the court to declare them non-essential. If that happens, Apple, and presumably other companies currently licensing Ericsson's US patents for phones and other equipment, wouldn't have to pay for them. If the court finds that the patents are essential, Apple wants them to re-evaluate the licensing scheme to focus on the value of OEM parts rather than the final price of the phone that uses them.

In the grand tradition of stately international corporations having a pissing match over ungodly sums of money, Ericsson is suing Apple right back. Ericsson's counter-suit filed in the "rocket docket" of East Texas asks the court to evaluate its licensing offer to Apple. Ericsson's hope is that the court will find its offer reasonable, thus giving them leverage in Apple's suit. ~ AndroidPolice

If Apple wins this case it could have greater ramifications for the whole wireless industry.