Qualcomm rejects Nokia’s $20 million

Ouch.

All this bickering is troubling me. I understand the arguments coming from both sides and I’m going to have to side with Qualcomm (NSDQ: QCOM) on this one. They created a technology, which means investing R&D dollars, and now they want to be compensated for it. As much as I hate companies stifling innovation by patenting every tiny thing possible, this is capitalism at work.

Now if Qualcomm was charging Nokia (NYSE: NOK) more than the other phone manufactures then that would be a totally different story. Six companies in total have filed complaints against Qualcomm’s pricing to the European Commission.

Why can’t these 6 companies just boycott paying Qualcomm? That would be the equivalent of the Pullman strike, but on an international level.

Here is a better idea: OPK and Paul Jacobs should compete in a few gladiator sports; I’d pay to see that.

UPDATE: Nokia just released this press release detailing how Qualcomm also uses Nokia patents. I’m now neutral on this topic since there is a lot of information I don’t have to accurately make a judgment call. I wonder how much the lawyers are making off of this case?