After the patent battle last November, Qualcomm and Nokia, the world’s largest cell phone maker, have agreed to a cease-fire in their sprawling patent dispute until they decide if a Delaware court is the best place to settle their differences.

In a recent letter sent to Nokia, Qualcomm proposed a “stand down on all patent litigation,” pending negotiations that could move a contract arbitration and other issues before Delaware Chancery Court Judge Leo Strine Jr. The Delaware Court of Chancery exclusively hears business cases.

Nokia licensed certain wireless technologies from Qualcomm, which pioneered CDMA, or Code-Division Multiple Access, under a cross-licensing contract signed in 2001. But deeper resentments between the two wireless giants have festered, and disputes have flared on various fronts.

A disagreement over the 2001 agreement led to private arbitration, as required under the contract, before an administrative law judge.

Source: SignOnSanDiego

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 Print Posted by Amir Karimuddin on January 16th, 2008