Nokia files lawsuit against Apple

Apple faces a legal challenge from Nokia in the Federal District Court against claims that the iPhone maker has infringed on ten of Nokia's intellectual properties.

The patents involved in the case aren't to be taken lightly, with essential functioning of 'GSM, UMTS (3G WCDMA) and wireless LAN standards' implicated across all iPhone models since its inception.

The official press release states that, 'Nokia has created one of the strongest and broadest patent portfolios in the industry, investing more than EUR 40 billion in R&D during the last two decades. Much of this intellectual property, including the patents in suit, has been declared essential to industry standards.'

And with more than 40 companies, (including most major vendors) already paying licensing fees to use the technology, it's not hard to see why Nokia would take action against Apple getting 'a free ride on the back of Nokia's innovation', if this is indeed the case.