Patent licensing

Build on our patents to make innovative products

For more than 30 years, we have been pushing the boundaries of what's possible in communication. Nokia has defined many of the fundamental technologies used in virtually all mobile devices and taken a leadership role in open standardization. Today, our inventions power entire industries such as smartphones, consumer electronics, video and multimedia services, automotive and the wider Internet of Things (IoT) domain.

Since 2000 Nokia has invested over €140bn in research and development (R&D), and our annual investment is more than €4bn. As a result, we have built one of the broadest and strongest patent portfolios in the telecommunications industry with around 20,000 patent families (each family can comprise several individual patents).

We own a leading share of Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) in every generation of cellular standards with over 4,500 patent families declared as essential to 5G. Our patented inventions also cover significant multimedia technologies, particularly in the field of video compression.

As one of the first companies in the world, Nokia has achieved the highly respected ISO 9001 certification for our high-quality patent portfolio management.

"The best way to predict the future is to create it"

€140bn+

invested in R&D since 2000, including €4.5bn+ in 2022 alone

~20,000

patent families, of which more than 4,500 declared essential for 5G

1,700+

inventions on which patents were filed in 2022

Patent licensing works

Patent licensing enables companies to share innovation and collaborate to drive future opportunities together

The licensing of global cellular standards and other technologies has enabled tremendous innovation, consumer choice and industry growth. Standardized technologies allow products manufactured by different companies to communicate seamlessly with each other. Open standardization also enables new market entrants to develop standardized, interoperable products without having to make their own substantial investments in R&D.

In return licensees pay royalty fees for the use of our technology, which we re-invest, along with additional investment, in developing the next generation of inventions.

Our team can help you to enter into a licensing agreement for the patented technology you need.

We have dedicated licensing programs for mobile devices, multimedia (including sub-programs for consumer electronics and video services), and IoT (including sub-programs for automotive and IoT devices). We currently have around 200 licensees, licensed through our patent licensing programs.

Mobile devices

If it connects to a mobile network, it uses our patented inventions. We work with mobile device manufacturers to license our SEPs for 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G standards. Our cellular portfolio of SEPs and non-SEPs covers fundamental technologies for connectivity, user interface, security and beyond.

Consumer electronics and video services

Modern video delivery would not be possible without our inventions. We license a world-class portfolio of SEPs and non-SEPs that are used in consumer electronics such as smart TVs and laptops, and in video-on-demand, social media, and other services that stream video.

Automotive

Connected vehicles rely on cellular connectivity for a range of services and features including updating maps and software, and for in-vehicle infotainment. The next generation of cellular standards will introduce a variety of new benefits and use cases, such as enhanced safety and automated driving. The vast majority of connected cars in the market now have a license to our technology.

IoT devices

The world is becoming more connected. Cellular connectivity adds great value to a wide range of new devices and applications that enhance safety, security and efficiency. We offer licenses for our cellular and multimedia technology patents, covering applications such as payment terminals, smart meters, asset tracking, and more.

Leading the move to 5G-Advanced and 6G

With our cutting-edge work in standardization and our leading 5G patent portfolio, we are driving the delivery of the next generation of cellular connectivity, including 5G Advanced and 6G.