Nokia sued Apple on Thursday

The world’s largest cell phone company Nokia sued Apple on Thursday claiming the iPhone violates 10 patents for wireless transmission technologies.

The iPhone, which was introduced by Apple in 2007, uses two industry standards for wireless communications, GSM and UMTS, that Nokia developed as part of a consortium of global telecommunications companies. Nokia said it had repeatedly asked Apple to licence its patents related to these standards and that Apple had refused.

IIkka Rahnasto, Vice President for legal and intellectual property at Nokia said, "By refusing to agree appropriate terms for Nokia's intellectual property, Apple is attempting to get a free ride on the back of Nokia's innovation,"

Steve Dowling, an Apple spokesman, said that the company did not comment on pending litigation. Patents disputes are standard practice in the world of electronics, especially cellphones, where the products are complex and a lot of money is at stake.