December 9, 2019
By Foo Yun Chee
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Finnish telecoms equipment maker Nokia <NOKIA.HE> has called a temporary halt to legal action against Daimler <DAIGn.DE> in the hope the German carmaker will be open to mediation in their dispute over technology licensing fees.
Daimler, along with Bury Technologies, Continental <CONG.DE>, Valeo <VLOF.PA> and Thales-owned <TCFP.PA> Gemalto had complained to the European Commission this year about fees demanded by Nokia for patents crucial to car communications.
Nokia’s case in pursuit of fees from Daimler has thrown a spotlight on the wider battle between tech companies and the car industry over royalties for technologies essential for navigation systems, vehicle communications and self-driving cars.
Nokia has in recent years initiated 10 court cases against Daimler in Germany for alleged patent infringements. Daimler, meanwhile, has issued its own lawsuits against Nokia.
However, Nokia said on Monday that constructive negotiation is the best way to resolve matters, having last week offered independent mediation as part of efforts to avoid an EU antitrust investigation.
“To ensure there is time for this mediation to be successful, we have unilaterally chosen to postpone the pending hearing on 10 December in Germany,” Nokia spokesman Mark Durrant said.
“We trust that Daimler and its tier 1 suppliers will now engage in these meaningful efforts to reach settlement. There is more to gain for all if we work together.”
EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager welcomed the mediation efforts, saying postponement of the court hearing was a positive move.
“This is why we think it is a good thing that they now try mediation at the International Chamber of Commerce,” she told reporters. “It would be a good thing if there could be a mutual understanding.”
Nokia has also offered to negotiate with the car parts makers instead of only Daimler on licensing fees.
Carmakers argue that car parts makers should deal with the licensing fees rather than them and that patent holders should be open to negotiations with whichever company is interested in using their patents.
Sources had told Reuters that EU competition enforcers had been poised to open an investigation into the matter until Nokia made the mediation offer.
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by David Goodman)
