BBC Learning English
Words in the News
15

th

June 2011

Nokia and Apple agree

Words in the News

© British Broadcasting Corporation 2011

Page 1 of 2

bbclearningenglish.com

Two of the world's largest technology companies, Nokia and Apple, have agreed a deal that

ends a long running legal dispute over intellectual property rights. This report is from Mark

Gregory:

Two years ago Nokia went to court in the US claiming Apple had infringed its patents in

areas like touch-screen technology, caller ID and wi-fi. Apple then counter sued.

This settlement ends all outstanding litigation.

It appears to be a victory for Nokia as Apple has agreed to pay a lump sum and continuing

royalty payments. The amounts have not been disclosed.

But the legal deal is unlikely to change anything in the marketplace where Nokia smartphones

are struggling in face of competition from the Apple iPhone and handsets powered by

Google software.

In a carefully worded statement, Apple acknowledges reaching a licensing deal with Nokia

but claims it does not cover the majority of innovations that in its words make the iPhone

unique.

Decoded that means Apple denies stealing the technologies that made the iPhone a success.

Mark Gregory, BBC Technology Correspondent

Words in the News

© British Broadcasting Corporation 2011

Page 2 of 2

bbclearningenglish.com

Vocabulary and definitions

infringed its patents

used its legally recognised technology without permission

counter sued

took legal action against someone who had taken legal

action against them

outstanding litigation

legal disputes which are not yet settled

a lump sum

a large amount of money paid at one time

royalty payments

money paid to use another company's ideas or technology

disclosed

made public

struggling in face of

finding it difficult to be successful because of

a carefully worded statement

an announcement expressed in a way that does make them

sound guilty

innovations

new technological and design developments

decoded

expressed in simple language

More on this story:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13759612

Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2011/06/110615_witn_nokia_apple_page.shtml