On Tuesday 3 September Microsoft agreed to pay €3.79 billion for Nokia’s handset business.

Microsoft also paid another €1.65 billion for a ten year licence for Nokia’s patents which are considered to be some of the highest-quality patents in the mobile market.

While this, in effect, gives Microsoft the right to make use of Nokia’s patents it does not involve a transfer of ownership of the patents themselves.

Until now Nokia has not widely licensed many of its patents, instead using them to protect its handset business. Following the transaction with Microsoft a Nokia spokesman have confirmed the company are exploring the possibility of licensing some technologies.

One Senior IP executive has said following the deal that ‘It wouldn’t surprise me at all to see litigation filed by Nokia in coming months’.

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