Nokia in second Apple patent case

Handset maker Nokia has launched a second court case in its legal battle with Apple over patents.

The second case claims that Apple infringed seven Nokia patents in almost all of its products.

The legal action, launched on 29 December, coincided with a similar complaint to the US International Trade Commission (ITC).

Nokia had already filed court papers accusing Apple of infringing 10 of its patents in the iPhone.

In that case it said that Apple had unfairly used technology relating to wireless data, speech coding, security and encryption in the iPhone handset.

'Key features'

The latest move marks the latest escalation in the battle between Nokia - the world's biggest smart phone maker - and Apple - the creator of the hugely successful iPhone.

The Finnish phone maker alleges that Apple is using patented technologies to "create key features in its products", including iPods and iPhones.

In October, Nokia sued Apple, saying that the company's popular touchscreen iPhone infringed 10 of its patents.

Apple told the BBC that it would not comment on Nokia's latest legal move.

However, the US firm recently countered by filing its own lawsuit against Nokia, saying the phone maker had copied certain aspects of the iPhone and infringed 13 of its patents.

The new complaint to the ITC relates to seven patents related to "user interface, as well as camera, antenna and power management technologies".

Nokia told Reuters that the firm expected the ITC to decide whether to pursue the case in around 30 days.