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Düsseldorf / Stuttgart (dpa) - In the mobile communications patent dispute between the network equipment supplier Nokia and the car manufacturer Daimler, central questions are now to be clarified by the European Court of Justice.

The Düsseldorf Regional Court will submit a case to the Luxembourg judges, as announced on Thursday (Az. 4c O 17/19).

Nokia accuses Daimler of patent infringements in connection with mobile radio technology in cars and sued for injunctive relief in each case.

The network equipment supplier was successful in one case before the Mannheim Regional Court in August, but not in other cases.

At its core, the dispute revolves around how so-called standard-essential patents, the use of which is absolutely necessary for the use of the technology, are made available to all providers at fair conditions and without discrimination.

According to the court, Nokia is of the opinion that it is free to decide at which level licenses are granted to whom, i.e. whether directly to the car manufacturers or to their individual suppliers.

Daimler, on the other hand, is of the opinion that the suppliers should be able to license their products themselves directly.

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Like the Mannheim Regional Court before, the Düsseldorf judges also assume that Daimler infringes a Nokia patent in this specific case.

At the same time, however, they raise the question of whether the network equipment provider is abusing its "undisputed dominant position on the licensing market" when it asserts its claims.

An appeal to the Higher Regional Court is still possible against the decision.

Nokia spoke of “purely academic” questions, since licensing offers were made to both Daimler and the suppliers.

Other courts' decisions in favor of Nokia were not affected by the current decision.

"Daimler has been using Nokia's technology for 14 years and has been looking for all possible ways to avoid paying," it said.

One will now discuss how to proceed.

Daimler welcomed the decision.

This means that the questions about the licensing of patents can now be answered fundamentally and across Europe, said a spokesman, pointing out that the Federal Cartel Office had also suggested such a procedure.

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© dpa-infocom, dpa: 201126-99-471414 / 2

Communication from the Düsseldorf Regional Court