Dutch court dismisses Nokia case against Qualcomm

AMSTERDAM, Nov 14 (Reuters) A Dutch court on Wednesday dismissed a patent-licensing complaint by Nokia Oyj, the world's biggest mobile phone maker, against electronic chip supplier Qualcomm Inc.

Three judges at the court in The Hague ruled that the court did not have jurisdiction to rule on Nokia's claims outside of the Netherlands. They also ruled that Nokia had not provided enough information on the specific patents in question for the court to provide a reasoned decision.

Nokia and Qualcomm have been in numerous legal disputes after a key cross-licensing agreement over technology patents expired in April 2007, worrying investors on both side of Atlantic, with complaints filed in the United States, Germany and the Netherlands.

Nokia noted that the court dismissed the case based on the scope of claims made by Nokia, rather than the patent issue itself.

''Nokia is confident that its substantive claim is well founded and is considering if it will appeal the decision,'' Nokia spokeswoman Anne Eckert said in a statement.

Nokia has said that it should not have to pay for technology provided by San Diego-based Qualcomm, because Qualcomm's technology is already licensed to a supplier to Nokia of mobile phone chips, Texas Instruments.

Qualcomm officials were not immediately available to comment.

A German court dismissed Nokia's case against Qualcomm last month on similar grounds.

Analysts estimate Nokia had been paying Qualcomm about 0 million per year before the patent expiry and wanted to cut the cost. Nokia says its patent portfolio is much stronger now than 15 years ago, when the original licensing deal was signed.

REUTERS BJR ND1656