Google’s Nexus 7 is the best new way to spend 250 bucks: it’s fast, slick, and expensive-feeling. But it also manages to infringe a stack of Nokia patents in the process…allegedly.
Nokia has accused the tablet of infringing on a number of its patents connected with the IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi standard, reports The Inquirer. In fact, most mobile device manufacturers licence the patents from Nokia; currently, neither Google nor Asus is on the list of licensees.
However, it’s perhaps not as dramatic as it sounds. A Nokia spokesperson told The Inquirer that “companies who are not yet licensed under our standard essential patents should simply approach us and sign up for a licence.” In other words, Google and Asus can almost certainly approach them to get their paperwork in order.
Strange, then, that Asus is being cagey on the issue, telling The Inquirer that “at the moment, Asus will not be providing any response/comment related.” How odd. [The Inquirer]