Nokia targets iPhone, iPad & more in second ITC complaint against Apple

Nokia's suit takes aim at Apple's iPhone, iPod, iPad and Mac lineup, and accuses the Cupertino, Calif., device maker of violating patents with "key features" in those products. Claimed to be infringing are features related to multi-tasking, data synchronization, positioning, call quality, and the use of Bluetooth accessories.

"Our latest ITC filing means we now have 46 Nokia patents in suit against Apple, many filed more than 10 years before Apple made its first iPhone," said Paul Melin, vice president of intellectual property at Nokia. "Nokia is a leading innovator in technologies needed to build great mobile products and Apple must stop building its products using Nokia's proprietary innovation."

Nokia's statement notes that the company has invested 43 billion euros in research and development over the last two decades. It makes no mention of which specific seven patents are included in the filing.

The new complaint comes days after an initial ruling from the ITC found that Apple did not infringe on five Nokia patents. That was based on a previous complaint Nokia filed against Apple, which the ITC began formally investigating in January of 2010.

Nokia said Tuesday that it does not agree with the ITC's initial determination that there was no violation of Section 337 in the initial complaint. The Finnish handset maker said it is still waiting to see the full details of the ruling before deciding its next steps.

The legal battle between Nokia and Apple is already sprawling, and it continues to grow. Apple has its own lawsuit and a complaint with the ITC, and last December Nokia expanded the legal battle with Apple to Europe with patent infringement claims filed in the U.K., Germany and the Netherlands. Nokia said it expects some of those overseas filings to come to trial in the next few months.