InterDigital lost its patent suit against Microsoft

Eight years ago, Wilmington-based mobile tech development company InterDigital won a lawsuit against Samsung for infringing upon its patent covering 3G cellular technology.
Then, InterDigital and the U.S. International Trade Commission went after Nokia.
As you might remember, the Nokia N95 smartphone was all the rage on the market back in 2007. It was the first efficient all-in-one device, pioneering a market soon to be usurped by Apple’s iPhone.
When Microsoft acquired Nokia devices two years ago, also acquired the lawsuit with InterDigital.
Things weren’t looking so hot for Microsoft back in April, when a judge ruled that Microsoft was indeed infringing upon two of InterDigital’s patents covering 3G cellular technology, putting Microsoft at risk of losing the right to sell many of its phones in the United States.
Last week, that ruling was reversed. Yet, InterDigital is staying positive.
“Today’s decision is disappointing but is expected to have a limited impact on our going-forward business, given the decline of the Nokia mobile device business under Microsoft’s control and its limited market position,” said InterDigital president and CEO William J. Merritt in a press release. “InterDigital will continue to seek compensation for past infringement and the further unlicensed use of our contributions to wireless mobile communication standards.”
But it’s not over just yet.
On Aug. 20, Microsoft filed an antitrust suit against InterDigital, claiming the company is not fulfilling the promise to license its patents fairly.