Swedish telecom equipment firm Ericsson has extended its U.S. patent battle with Apple to Europe, filing lawsuits in Germany, Britain, and the Netherlands over technology license payments.
Ericsson said it had offered to enter into arbitration with Apple to reach a global licensing agreement for its patents, but that offer had now expired.
“Apple continues to profit from Ericsson’s technology without having a valid license in place,” said Kasim Alfalahi, Chief Intellectual Property Officer at Ericsson, adding, “Our technology is used in many features and functionality of today’s communication devices. We are confident the courts in Germany, the UK and the Netherlands will be able to help us resolve this matter in a fair manner.”
The suits relate to 2G and 4G/LTE mobile communication standards and non-standardized technology.
An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment on the action, instead referring Reuters to its statement from January: “Unfortunately, we have not been able to agree with Ericsson on a fair rate for their patents so, as a last resort, we are asking the courts for help,” reads part of that statement.
Ericsson filed suit in mid-January in the U.S. against Apple, in response to a lawsuit from the Cupertino-based iPhone maker.
In March, the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) agreed to investigate claims that Apple’s iPhone and iPad has infringed on a number of Ericsson’s cellular technology patents.
If Ericsson’s wins in court, Apple would be required to pay it between 2-6 billion Swedish crowns ($240-725 million) annually, analysts said.
