Not even a week after making its official debut in the tablet market, Google is reportedly facing patent accusations from Nokia, which claims the software giant's new Nexus 7 tablet infringes on several of its patents.
According to a report Tuesday from London-based The Inquirer, Nokia alleges that Google's Nexus 7 tablet, which was jointly manufactured with Taiwanese PC maker Asus, infringes on its patents related to IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi standards in mobile devices.
"Nokia has more than 40 licensees, mainly for its standards essential patent portfolio, including most of the mobile device manufacturers. Neither Google nor Asus is licensed under our patent portfolio," a Nokia spokesperson was quoted as saying in the report. "Companies who are not yet licensed under our standard essential patents should simply approach us and sign up for a license."
[Related: Partners Say Nexus 7 Tablet Will Bring Users Into Google's 'Ecosystem']
Neither Asus nor Google immediately responded to a request for comment.
According to the report, Nokia most likely will push for Google or Asus to license the patents in question, rather than seek a preliminary injunction against the Nexus 7, which could potentially ban sales of the new device.
Apple won an injunction against Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 last week, which has temporarily halted sales of the tablet in the U.S. The ban was instituted after California Judge Lucy Koh sided with Apple, ruling that the Galaxy Tab infringed on a design patent Apple uses for its iPad.
The Nexus 7, Google's first homegrown tablet, touts a 7-inch screen and runs the latest version of its Android mobile OS, version 4.1 Jelly Bean. Positioned by Google as a hub for multimedia consumption and boasting a modest $199 price tag, the Nexus 7 is set to compete with Amazon's Kindle Fire e-reader, which also sells for $199.
PUBLISHED JULY 3, 2012
