ITC Staff Sides With Nokia in Apple Smartphone Trial

Nokia likely won't be found liable of infringing on Apple's patents, said staff at the U.S. International Trade Commission, according to Bloomberg.

In January, Apple filed a complaint with the ITC asking them to ban imports of Nokia mobile phones after the company filed the initial complaint in December 2009 asking the ITC to ban imports of the iPhone, iPod, and MacBook products.

"The evidence will not establish a violation" of Apple patent rights, the staff said in a pre-hearing memo released yesterday


The staff said that some aspects of the patents were invalid and others weren't infringed. ITC Judge Charles Bullock is scheduled to release his findings in February and the staff said that if he does find there was a violation, he should recommend an order to ban imports of specific Nokia phones. The judge isn't obligated to follow the staff's position. His ruling is subject to review by the six-member commission, which is scheduled to complete the investigation by June.

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