Nokia sues RIM for breach of contract

HELSINKI (AP) - Nokia Corp. is suing Research in Motion (RIM), the maker of the Blackberry, for breach of contract in Britain, the United States and Canada over cellular patents that the two companies agreed on nine years ago.

The struggling cellphone and RIM agreed in 2003 on a "cross-licence for standards-essential cellular patents." Since then, RIM has sought to amend the deal, claiming the licence should also have covered patents for non-essential parts.

A Swedish tribunal earlier this month ruled against RIM's claims.

Nokia said on Wednesday that it is now filing a lawsuit to enforce the tribunal's latest decision against RIM's claims. According to that decision, RIM is not entitled to manufacture or sell WLAN products, used widely in smartphones, without first agreeing royalties with Nokia, which is based in Finland.