Trump Administration Backs Nokia in Fight With Auto Parts Maker

The Trump administration has sided with patent owners and against the auto parts industry in a closely watched legal battle over how to value fundamental telecommunications technology.

The government is urging a court in Texas to dismiss an antitrust claim filed by auto-electronics maker Continental AG that accused owners of patents for standardized telecommunications of charging too much for access to wireless technology.

Continental claims that Nokia Oyj, Sharp Corp. and other members of the patent-licensing group Avanci LLC are violating their pledge to license standard-essential technology on “fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory,” or FRAND, terms. The complaint in federal ...