EU asks Daimler, Continental for details on failed Nokia fee talks

European Union antitrust regulators have asked Daimler, Continental and other car parts makers for details of failed mediation talks with Nokia in a patent licensing fee dispute.

Daimler, Continental, Bury Technologies, Valeo and Thales-owned Gemalto complained to the European Commission last year about the fees Finland’s Nokia was demanding for patents related to car communications.

The row highlights a wider battle between tech companies and the car sector over royalties for technologies key to navigation systems, vehicle communications and self-driving cars, Reuters reads.

Europe wants to protect its technological sovereignty as Nokia and Ericsson are regarded as leading forces in the development of such technologies, while others say this should not be at the expense of other sectors such as autos.

Nokia initiated mediation with the companies, which sources said ended earlier this month without agreement. EU competition enforcers now want to know what happened, the people said.

Daimler, which owns the Mercedes-Benz luxury car brand, said the European Commission had sent a request for information. The German company said it has a different legal opinion on how key patents should be licensed to the auto industry.