Nokia Takes Legal Action Against Amazon and HP Over Video Patents

Finnish telecommunications giant Nokia announced on Tuesday that it has initiated legal proceedings against Amazon in multiple international jurisdictions, including the United States and India, for patent violations related to video technologies. Additionally, Nokia is also pursuing legal action against HP (formerly Hewlett-Packard) in a U.S. court for unauthorized use of Nokia's video technology.

Arvin Patel, Chief Licensing Officer at Nokia, explained in a blog post that the company had engaged in discussions with Amazon and HP over several years. However, in some cases, litigation becomes the only viable recourse to address companies that fail to adhere to the rules respected by others.

Nokia has also filed lawsuits against Amazon in Germany, the United Kingdom, and the European Union's patent court. These legal actions pertain to Amazon's Prime Video service and devices that infringe upon Nokia's patents, covering areas such as video compression, content delivery, content recommendation, and hardware-related aspects.

Nokia emphasized the substantial growth expected in the streaming market, estimated to reach $300 billion by 2027. However, the company expressed concern over the disparity between technology developers' investments and those who reap the most significant benefits.

Nokia highlighted its success in reaching agreements on technology with companies like Apple, Samsung, and other device manufacturers. Patel emphasized Nokia's preference for amicable resolutions through constructive, good-faith negotiations with companies relying on their technology.

Earlier this month, Nokia announced plans to reduce its workforce by up to 14,000 employees due to declining demand for its 5G equipment in North America, which impacted its profits.