Could Nokia – Microsoft Partnership Lead To A Patent Settlement with Apple?

Earlier today, Microsoft and Nokia announced a partnership to bring Windows Phone 7 to Nokia’s smartphones. Intellectual property activist Florian Mueller speculates this could facilitate the settlement of patent disputes between Apple and Nokia.

I can’t imagine that Apple would assert any of its patents against Windows Phone 7. Nokia is now covered by Microsoft as far as Windows Phone-based devices are concerned, and it’s been a long time since Apple and Microsoft had (and settled) a patent dispute. They need each other.

In the past months, the two companies fired back at each other with a series of lawsuits. I don’t know how much Apple “needs” Microsoft at the end of the day, but I do agree that resources would be better spent going after Android rather than Nokia’s alleged patent infringements.

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