As the battle continues between Nokia and Qualcomm, the handset maker scores one on the board. The U.S. International Trade Commission said it will not review a court’s initial determination that Nokia’s 2G-only handsets do not infringe on three Qualcomm patents. The decision relates to GSM/GPRS/EDGE products, not the 3G products that are at issues in the two companies’ other disputes. Qualcomm said it has not yet decided if it will appeal the ITC’s decision.
“While Qualcomm is disappointed with the Commission’s decision, we are focusing on the recent consolidation of the arbitration with the case in Delaware,” Don Rosenberg, general counsel for Qualcomm, said in a statement. “We believe that the consolidation will resolve many important contract disputes between Nokia and Qualcomm more quickly and efficiently.”
Nokia has said that it does not expect the consolidation to resolve the two companies larger issues. Though the world’s largest handset maker said it was pleased with the ITC’s decision.