Nokia continues to hold valuable patents despite selling its handset business to Microsoft, with many mobile phone vendors expressing their concern that the Finnish mobile phone giant may become a patent troll, reports Guangzhou’s 21st Century Business Herald.
Microsoft and Nokia signed a deal regarding sales of shares and assets of Nokia on Sept. 2 last year, involving US$7.2 billion. As per the deal, Microsoft spent US$5 billion to acquire Nokia’s handset business and paid an additional US$2.2 billion for a 10-year license for Nokia’s patents.
A patent troll is a company that enforces patent rights against accused patent infringers to earn patent fees but it does not manufacture any products or supply services. Since it does not operate a major business, a patent troll is also termed a non-practicing entity (NPE).
Source: Want China Times
