Nokia issues subtle warning to Google and Asus over Nexus 7 design

Nokia has issued a coded warning to Google over its Nexus 7 tablet in a statement issued to The Inquirer.

A spokesperson for the Finnish firm told the website that it has "more than 40 licensees" for its patent portfolio, "including most of the mobile device manufacturers".

"Neither Google nor Asus is licensed under our patent portfolio."

While not outright suggesting the Nexus 7 infringes any Nokia patents, the Nokia spokesman then went on to gently suggest that Google and Asus "approach us [Nokia] and sign up for a license".

Nokia's earlier innovations in mobile technology (and the sheer size of its Research and Development budget for most of the last decade) means that it does hold a number of important patents regarding mobile tech, so it would be a surprise if the Nexus 7 doesn't at least infringe one design patent owned by the Finnish giant.

This Nokia news comes just a day after the court battle between Samsung and Apple in the US reached a critical stage, with Apple succeeding in getting a preliminary injunction against the Galaxy Nexus, though this is now being appealed against by Samsung.