EU Warns Nokia Not To Become a Patent Troll 78
Barence writes "The vice president of the European Commission's Competition unit has warned Nokia not to become a 'patent troll'. Nokia is in the process of selling its devices business to Microsoft, giving rise to fears that the remaining part of Nokia will make more aggressive use of its patents portfolio. Vice president Joaquin Almunia said that the commission had dismissed the possibility that 'Nokia would be tempted to behave like a patent troll' when it cleared the way for Microsoft to acquire Nokia's devices division – but warned that 'if Nokia were to take illegal advantage of its patents in the future, we will open an antitrust case.' 'I sincerely hope we will not have to,' said Almunia."
Re:TROLLL.. TROLL! (Score:5, Informative)
> Particularly ones where they have no product that they offer,
This is exactly what is going on. What's left of Nokia won't have any manufacturing capacity or products. Another NPE.
>Motorola
Motorola makes actual products.
Being this dumb should hurt.
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BMO
Re:Typical american slasdotters (Score:5, Informative)
"In March 2004, the EU ordered Microsoft to pay €497 million ($794 million or £381 million)...."
Re:Typical american slasdotters (Score:3, Informative)
Since very recently as you'll soon find out with a quick google..
Not sure what you're referring to, Microsoft bought the devices division of Nokia but Nokia itself - which is the part being discussed here and the part that owns all the patents - is a Finnish company.
Keep in mind (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Kingmaker, self (Score:4, Informative)
They are reacting to the tact that Nokia seems to have divested itself of all physical products and its OS, so how what is left looks kinda like a patent holding company. Of course Nokia say they are R&D, which is fine, the EU is just reminding then that will act quicky in a market that is full of trolls and patent abusers.