Nokia, Apple resolve patent dispute

Both the companies will withdraw their respective complaints to the US International Trade Commission.

"We're glad to put this behind us and get back to focusing on our respective businesses," Apple Europe spokesperson Alan Hely said. "Apple and Nokia have agreed to drop all of our current lawsuits and enter into a license covering some of each other's patents, but not the majority of the innovations that make the iPhone unique."

Apple to pay royalties to Nokia
As per the agreement, Apple will make one-time payment to Nokia, and continue paying royalties.

The settlement is likely to improve the Finland based handset maker’s recently revised quarter-2 outlook.

Stephen Elop, chief executive of Nokia said, "We are very pleased to have Apple join the growing number of Nokia licensees, the deal will enable us to focus on further licensing opportunities in the mobile-communications market."

Recently, Nokia registered a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission, claiming that Apple had infringed Nokia patents "in almost all of its products."

Apple-Nokia patent dispute
Nokia and Apple have been locked in a cold war over patent since 2009.

Both the companies were constantly accusing each other of violating patents that include aspects such as swiping gestures on touch screens and the integrated "app store" for downloading updated programs.

Nokia accused that Apple's iPhone had violated 10 patents. It alleged that Apple's touch-screen iPhone were using technology that was patented by Nokia 10 years before the 2007 launch of the Apple device.

Nokia demanded Apple to pay royalties on the iPhones sold. It shortly followed up with additional claims against the iPad.

Apple declined the charges of infringing Nokia patents, and in turn bombed back with its own infringement claims.

The Cupertino, California based company accused Nokia of copying the iPhone in order to regain its lost share in the high-end mobile market.

Recently, Nokia registered a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission, claiming that Apple had infringed Nokia patents "in almost all of its products."

The Nokia patent
The controversial Nokia patents cover a series of handset technologies and features such as touch scrolling and display illumination, Nokia spokesman Mark Durrant said.

The company has reportedly spent €43 billion ($62 billion) in research and development over the past few decades on patents

Last month, Nokia anticipated its second-quarter sales and margins to be lower than expected due to stiff competition in the smartphone market.