Google has waded into a bitter copyright spat between Lenovo and Nokia which could impact sales of Chromebook laptops and Google-affiliated products around the world.
The ongoing dispute, in which Nokia has alleged that rival Lenovo infringes five of its patents, has already seen some of Lenovo’s products removed from shop shelves in Germany.
Documents filed in the District Court of Columbia and published this month revealed that Google's top lawyers have intervened and are now appealing to the US International Trade Commission to allow them to ask the Finnish authorities to force two former Nokia employees to hand over documents relating to the patents.
The Telegraph understands that Google has been assisting Lenovo since the summer.
The legal dispute has led Nokia to request that Lenovo products be suspended from sale in Europe and the US.
The Regional Court in Munich ruled against Lenovo earlier this year and ordered the Chinese technology giant to stop selling devices with the patented technology, recall those already on the market along and pay Nokia damages and costs.
Nokia claims that it has patented a video compression and decompression technology that Lenovo is infringing in its PCs, laptops and tablets but refused to agree to a license. It has brought legal action in Germany, the US, India and Brazil.
One of the disputed patents covers an interface which makes it easier for users to access apps on Lenovo devices. Nokia claims that this is infringed by Lenovo in the Google assistant and Chromebook Launcher feature, which can be found on Chromebook laptops and Lenovo’s smart home products.
Google makes its own line of hardware but partners with companies like Lenovo to provide the operating system, much like Microsoft has traditionally done with PCs and laptop-makers.
Blocking one of its main hardware partners in two major western markets would be a blow because Google has invested in a hardware strategy in an attempt to get its software in front of more consumers.
Google can get more people using YouTube, Gmail, Google Assistant and its search engine if it is available on Lenovo’s products straight out of the box, which results in higher advertising revenues.
A Nokia spokesperson said: “Lenovo has been using our video compression technologies for many years without any license or payment.
“Lenovo can easily resolve this matter by taking a license on fair terms, just as many others have done. There is more to gain if we work together.”
Lenovo did not comment. Google did not respond to a request for comment.
December 22, 2020 at 01:00PM
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Google wades into bitter legal spat between Nokia and Lenovo - Telegraph.co.uk
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