Nokia, HTC Score Victory Against IPCom as Patent Is Deemed Invalid

From PC World: The European Patent Office (EPO) in Munich has revoked a patent belonging to IPCom, but the impact of the decision is in dispute.

The decision means that a Tuesday verdict is no longer expected to stop the sales of Nokia and HTC products in Germany, according to separate statements from the two phone makers.

The revoking of the patent comes after Düsseldorf district court on Tuesday ruled that Vodafone and T-Mobile have to stop distribution of 3G capable Nokia and HTC mobile phones in Germany, as these devices are infringing the EP 1 841 268 (#100A) patent.

The patent is related to how access channels are assigned to users in 3G networks. It allows, for example, emergency services to be given priority access, according to IPCom.

However, the fact that the patent has been revoked the means ruling in Düsseldorf is not expected to stop the sales of Nokia products in Germany, according to Nokia.

HTC agrees: "The EPO ruling undermines IPCom's licence infringement claim against us," the company said via email.

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