KEY POINTS:
A Wellington inventor, Michael Sutton, has mounted a David-and-Goliath legal challenge in the United States to Finnish cell phone giant Nokia, for infringing a data packaging technology patent.
Mr Sutton is seeking damages.
The complaint -- which says the world's top cell phone maker is using in its messaging applications technology that was patented by Mr Sutton -- was filed in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas on April 30.
The technology is the basis of short message service (SMS), which is almost universal on cell phones these days.
Nokia said it would actively defend the case.
"This case was previously filed against Nokia and then voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiff," a spokeswoman said.
"We will analyse the details of the new case ... and actively defend the rights of Nokia."
Legal rows in the wireless industry have increased as the complexity of technologies in phones grows.
Nokia is also in a major dispute with US Qualcomm on a cross-licensing agreement between the two firms.
Mr Sutton holds 880 of the 1000 shares issued in Michael S Sutton Ltd, the company taking the court case, with the remainder held by Michael Bailey, of Nelson.
Mr Bailey is also a shareholder in another company controlled by Mr Sutton, Advance Warning Analytical Communication Systems (NZ) Ltd.
Its 1150 shares are divided between Mr Sutton (880), Mr Bailey (120) ,Todd Corporation (100) and Rob Cameron (50).
- NZPA
