Nokia sued for hands free answer technology

Jun 08 2005 - 12:26 PM ET | Nokia

Nokia is being sued in Findland (where the company is based) for patent infringement over technology, "Allowing cellular phone users to answer their phones without touching them." This technolgy is now common in mobile phones because users can answer calls through hands free devices (either by pressing a button on the hands free or by speaking). Inventor Jari Lahtinen filed the a patent for the idea back in 1995. It was awarded in 2003. A Nokia spokesperson noted that in the worst case the patent is only applicable in Finland, but that Nokia will attempt to have the courts invalidate the patent. [via Engadget]

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