Nokia sues Apple again, drags iPad into the fight

Nokia slapped Apple with another patent-infringement suit today, this time over technologies used in the iPad 3G and iPhone. Just last October, the Finnish handset maker claimed the iPhone violated 10 of its patents and hauled Apple into court. That motion resulted in a countersuit by Cupertino and both filed complaints with the ITC -- in other words, the legal teams on both sides are more than acquainted.

Filed in the Western District of Wisconsin, the latest suit alleges the iPad 3G and iPhone infringe five patents involving "enhanced speech and data transmission, using positioning data in applications and innovations in antenna configurations that improve performance and save space, allowing smaller and more compact devices."

Considering previous actions, it's only a matter of time before Apple countersues Nokia in Wisconsin and both companies revise their claims with the ITC. One has to wonder whether any of these cases will be resolved before another product launch and subsequent filing.